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 Form 934— 20M— 7-35 
 
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SERMONS 
 
 Upon the following SubjeSisy 
 ^t VIZ. 
 
 The Divinity of Jesus Chri^V* 
 
 The Millenium. 
 
 The Wifdojn of God^ in the Per-^ 
 mijfwn of Sin. 
 
 By Joseph Bellamy, A.M. 
 
 Minifter of the Gofpcl at Bethlem. 
 
 I bring you good Tidings 0/ great Joy^ Luke ii. 10. 
 
 l^ght it /own for the Right ecus ^ and Gladneft fr the Up^ 
 right in Heart, Ps alm xcvii. 1 1, 
 
 '^There tvat a thick Darkrefi in all the l^nd of Fgvpt 
 
 But all the Children of Ijrael had Light in their Oivet- 
 ^^^g^- ExoD. X. 22, 23. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed and Sold by Edes and Gill ; and by S. Kngeland^ 
 iQ ^een- Street, M,dcc,lviu» 
 
oiv. a 
 
T^e "Divinity of Chrifl. J 
 
 And, as Jefus Chrift appears " in the Form of 
 God" in the/r/? Chapter of Genefis^ calling univerfal 
 Nature out of Nothing into Exiftence ; fo likewife 
 does he appear, and adl, and fpeak, as thinking it 
 <« no Robbery to be equal with God," in all the 
 grand Difpcnfations of divine Providence, from the 
 Calling of Abraham^ and forward, thro* ail the Jexvijh 
 Difpenfatim, 
 
 Turn to the third Chapter oi Exodus^ at the begin- 
 ning, and there you may fee, *' the Angel of the 
 *• Lord appeared to Mofes, in a Flame of Fire out 
 *' of the midft of a Bufli, :|: and God called unto 
 *' him out of the Bufh, and faid, I am the God of 
 *« thy Father, the God of Abraham, the God of 
 ** Ifaac, and the God of Jacob." Now who was this 
 God, that thus fpake to Mofes ? It was plainly the 
 God who had appeared to Abraham,Ifaac and Jacob j 
 and to whom they had built Altars, and whom they 
 had worfhipped. To Jacob, in particular, as he was 
 
 going 
 
 J *< Not a created Angel, but thcAngd of theCcvenant, Chrift 
 ** Jefus, who then and ever was God, and was to be Man, 
 •* and to be fent into the World in our Flelh, as a Mcf- 
 ** fenger from God. And thefe temporary Apparitions of 
 ** his, were Prefages or Fore-runners of his more folcmn 
 ** Miffion and Coming, and therefore he is fitly called an 
 ** Angel. That this Angel was no Creature, plainly «p- 
 «« pears by the wholeGontext,and efpecially \^j his faying, 
 ** I a7n the Lord^ &c. The A^igels never (peak thatLaa- 
 «* guage in Scripture : but, I am fent /rem God, and I am 
 •» thy Fello-ji)' Servant i &c. And it is a vain Pretence, to 
 " fay, That the Angel as God's Ambafrador fpeaks in 
 *« God's Name and Perfon. For what AmbafTador of any 
 «* Kmg in the World did ever fpeak thus, lam the King^ 
 ^* &c. Minifters are God's Ambaffadors ; but if any of 
 *^ ihem fliould fay, lam the Lord^ they would be guilty 
 <« of Blafphemy ; and fo would any created Angel too, 
 « for the fame Reafen/* Pool in Loc. 
 
L, - The Tiivmity of Chrifl. 
 
 going to Padan-AraiD. Gen. XXVIII. 12, 13. « He 
 ** dreamed, and behold, a Ladder fet upon theEarth, 
 *« and the Top of it reached to Heaven : and the 
 *• An?els of God [thefe were created Angels] afccnd- 
 *' ing and defcendmg on it. And behold, tlic Lord 
 ** [this was the fupremc God] ftood above it, and 
 ** faid, I am the Lord God of Abraham thyp'ather, 
 ** and the God of Ifaac : the Land whereon thou 
 *' lieft, to thee will I give it, and to thy Seed, &c. 
 And " Jacob called the Name of that Place Bethel," 
 i. e. theHoufe of God, ver. 19. *' And he anointed a 
 «• Pillar, and vowed a Vow, faying. If God will be 
 *' with me, &c. then (hall the Lord be my God" — 
 ver. 20, — 22. And when he was at Padan-Aram the 
 fame God appeared to him again, and is called the 
 Angel of God. Gen. XXXI. ♦' And the Angel of God 
 *« fpake to me in aDream". ver. 1 1. Thia was not a 
 created Angel ; for he faid, ver. 13. "I am theGod 
 *' of Bethel, where thou anointedfl: the Pillar, and 
 «* vowcdft a Vow unto Me." f And to this God he 
 
 afterwards 
 
 \ GOD the Father is never called the Anget of God : But 
 thQ God 0/ Bethel 15 called the Angel of God : Therefore 
 
 the God of Bethel is not God the Father.- The God of 
 
 Bethel is the fame who is called the Angel of the Covenant 
 in Mai. III. I. But that Angel of the C-roenant is Chrift, 
 as is plain from Mark 1.2. Therefore the God of Bethel 
 was 6'/^r;7?.— The God of Bethel was the God who appear- 
 ed to Abraham (C^^XII. 1,— 7-) to Ifaac {Gen. XXVf. 
 24, 25.) to Jacob (6>«. XXVIII. 13. and XXXI. 13.) to 
 Mofes (Exod. III. 2, -6.^GnMount Sinai {Exod.y.Y.. 2.) 
 and is ufually called the God and King of IfraeU thro' iflfe 
 old Teilament : But the God of Beth A was Jefus Chrifl : 
 Therefore Jefus Chrifl was the God and King of IfracL — 
 If Jefus Chrift was the God and King of Ifrael, then may 
 St. Paul be Julbtkd in reprefenting h.m as the Creator of 
 the Unirerfe, Col. I. 16. And la applying to him, in his 
 
 EpilUes, 
 
The T>himty of Ch rift. 7 
 
 afterwards ^«/// an Altar {Chap.XXXV. i.) and he 
 calls upon thisGod, this Angela to blefs the Lads (the two 
 Sons of Jofeph) a little before his Death. {Chap, 48. 
 
 j^, 16.) Now, who was this, fometimes called 
 
 God^ fometimes \\\q Jngd of God t" h \M, if we may 
 give Credit to his own Declaration, "The God of 
 <» Abraham {U?ap, XXVIIl. 13.) and the God 
 <' of Ifaac." And this was the God who now ap- 
 peared and fpake to Mofes in the Bulb, and vvh(> 
 afterwards gave the Law from Mount Sinai. And 
 of him, even of this very fame God, David fpeaks iii 
 the LXVIIIth PJhlm, ver. 7, Sec. " O God, when 
 *' thou vventert forth before thy People, when thoa 
 <' didrt march thro' theVVildernefs ; theEarth fliook, 
 *' the Heavens alfo dropped at the Prefencc of the 
 <' Lord : even Sinai itfelf was moved at thePrefence 
 " of God,thcGod of Ifrael. ver 1 7. — ThcChariots of 
 <' God are twenty Thoufand, even Thoufands of 
 *' Angels ; theLord is among them,as-in Sinai, in the 
 ** hofy Place, ^w. 18. Thou haft afc'ended on high, 
 <« thou haft led Captivity captive, thou haft received 
 
 *' Gifts for Men," &c. And now, who was this ? 
 
 Turn to the IV th Chapter of Ephe/ia?iSy and there 
 
 an infpircd Apoftle tells us, that it was Jefus Chrift. 
 ver, 8. It was He " Who afcended up on hik,lj, and 
 ** led Captivity captive." 
 
 B S3 
 
 Epiftles, what was evidently fpoken of the Cod and Kh:^ 
 
 i>f Ifraely in the ficred Writings of the old Ttliinient. 
 
 Compare Pfal, LXVIII. 18. with Eph. IV. 8. Axi6 Pfai\ 
 
 |£ll. 25. with Heb. I. 10. Slz. 5cc. &c.— And our bleffed 
 
 Saviour may be judifitd in iaying down his Life, rathet 
 
 than to give up his Claim. And there was moreTrutli 
 
 in theXitle fct up over his Head when on the Crofs {Jefus 
 of Nazareth the KinG of the Jews) than his Crucifiers 
 were aware of : For had they hKywrf^ thf^^ 'would net ha^^ 
 crucified the LoKH of Glorv. 
 
 274987 
 
*8 The 'Dhhuty of Ojrljf, 
 
 So that it was Je/us Chr'i/i^ who appeared to Abfa- 
 liam, Ifaac and Jacob, to Mofcs in tlie Burning Bu(h, 
 and onMount Sinai. And He appeared in the •••• Form 
 of God," and fpake in the Language of fupreme 
 Deity, as tMlbking it *' no Robbery to be equal with 
 God," faying, " 1 am the God of Abraham, the God 
 *^ of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob. I am the Lord 
 *' thy God which brought thee out oi the Land of 
 *' Fgypt, and out of the Houfe of Bondage. Thou 
 *' Ihalt have no other Gods before me. £';fc^. XX. — 
 
 And what could he have faid more than this to 
 
 fet up thus for fupreme God, and enjoin that none 
 fliould be wor(hi;.pped but himfelf ! 
 
 A*JD this God, who thus brought Ifrael out of 
 Egypt, and gave the Law from Mount Sinai, even l>e 
 v/as " the King of the Jews," their «w7 67;/^. For 
 their Government was a 77'^^a-^^_y,andGod was their 
 King, as King-C^^r^^ is King of Great- Britain, And 
 therefore when in the Days of Samuel, they defired 
 to have a King from among thcmfelves, like the Reft 
 of the Nations, -God faid. ( I Sa7n. VilL 7.; *' They 
 *' have reje6ted Me, that I fliould not reign over 
 *' them." (See alfo iSam.X. 18, 19.) This was in their 
 Hearts ; for they were weary of God's Government, 
 and did not hke to be in a State of fuch entireDepen- 
 dance on him, but wanted a King of their own. 
 However God did not give up his Government over 
 them,, nor grant them a King, in the Senfe they de- 
 fired ; but only nominated and conftituted one to be 
 his Vicegerent, to be his Deputy, to govern for and 
 under him, therefore called the Lord's a:winted^ ^^4 
 
 himfelf ftill their King. Now it was at Mdmit 
 
 Sinai God became their King, and they covenanted 
 and promifed to be his loyal and obedient Subjcdls. 
 
 Exod, XiX. 3—8. But thai Gad was Jefus Chrift, 
 
 as has been before proved. Therefore Jejus Chrift 
 
 ^vas ths King ofthjevji^ and they were his peculi? 
 
 Pcop) 
 
 V 
 
The T>ivinhy of Chnfl. 9 
 
 People - — And to this St. ]olin evidently alludes in 
 thofe Wcrds, Job. 1. 11. " He came to his own,'* 
 his ownPeopie h Nation, over whom he had reign^^d, 
 '* He came unto his own, and his own^ccived hiia 
 " not." Yea, look up, and view him on the Crofsy 
 and read the SupciTcription put over him, and thac 
 wiii declare who he is, Jesus of Nazareth thk 
 Kino of the Jeavs. (See Job. XII. 15. ZecbAX. 9.) 
 
 And as theiiGcd was their King, their civilChief ; 
 fo it was fuitable he fhould have 2. Palace built him» 
 that he might dwell among them. And according'y 
 by his Appointment the Tabernaclt was built in the 
 Wildernefs. . And there he dwelr^ in the Holy of 
 Holies, as their God and Kine, giving out Laws and 
 Orders from above the Mercy-feat. In Allufion tO' 
 which St. Jobn fpeaking of the fame God, fays, '* Th^ 
 " Word was made Fledi and tabernacled among us'' 
 
 (for fo it is in the QriginaJ.) Joh\ I. 14. And th s 
 
 God v.'hothus dwelt in their Tabernacle, and whoni 
 they tempted and tried forty Years in the Wilder- 
 nefs, St. Paul teftifies was Jefia Chrift. i Cor. X. 9, 
 " Neither let us tempt Chrill, as fome of them alfj 
 ** tempted, and were deflroyed of Serpents." (Se^: 
 alfo Ifa'i. LX!II. 9.* Compared ^^vkXx Ex:od. XXIIL 20, 
 and XXXIII. 14.) 
 
 Afterwards, in the Days of Solomon, a' Tiv ; ' 
 was built, exceeding grand and glorious ; however, 
 not equal to his infinite Greatnefs : for " the Hea- 
 " ven, and the Heaven of Heavens could not contaiii 
 " him." (i Km. VIII. 27.) But yet in this Tcqp^c 
 lie condcfcended to take up his Abode^ " in tt\*; 
 *' Cloud of Glory wliich filled the Houfe." [-i.C-bron. 
 V. 14.) And there he dwelt as God and King of ili 
 
 J^vjs. * In Remembrance of which, apd conic. ous 
 
 B 2 to 
 
 "" Solomon, in his Prayer at the Dedication of the Temp^% 
 
 fpc^king to the God and King of J{rael, faid, *• for thon, 
 
 '* evja 
 
5 The Divinity cf Chnfl, 
 
 ' to his own Dignity, our Saviour, in the Days of his 
 Fhlh, was filled with Indignation to fee theTemple, 
 once his hoIyDwelIing-Place,turned into anHoufeot' 
 Ivlerchandiz^ and he drove out the People. — And 
 l^eing qucllioncd for this his Condud, he anfwered, 
 '* DeOroy thisTemple (fpeaking of his Body) and in 
 ** three Days I will raife it up." Joh, 11, iq. As if he 
 Jiad faid, *' I am the God who once dwelt in your 
 *' Temple, now I dwell in this Dody,this is now my 
 ** 7\m;ile, dcftroy it, as I forefee you will, and in 
 *' threeDays I will raife it from theDead ; and thcre- 
 •' by give you full Proof who I be, and by what 
 ^* Authority I do thefe Things." • 
 
 To Abraham he fometimes appeared as a Man. 
 (Gen. XVlil. 1,2.) To IVlofes,in ^.Flame of Fire in the 
 BiifiK To all the Hoft of Ifrael, in a PilLr cf Cloud 
 hy Day and cf Ftre by Night, from the Time they 
 r;ent out of Egypt till they came to Mount Sinai, 
 On the Mount He took up his Abode till the Taber- 
 racle was built, and his Appearance was as devouring 
 Fire. Exod.XXW, 17. After the Tabernacle was 
 built, that became the Piace of his Refidence ; and 
 in a Pillar of CUud by Day and of Fire by Night, he 
 Jed the Ifraelites thro' all the Wildernefs, till he had 
 brought them into the lioly Land ; and the Taber- 
 nacle" was fet up at Shiloh : [JoJh.XYWX. r.) and 
 there He dwelt till the Days of FJi : {\ Sam.Wl,) 
 when, for the Wickednefs of the Children of Jfrae), 
 
 He 
 «•' p'-^n thcu ONLY knovefi the Hearts of all the chil- 
 *' dren of Men." i Kina. VIII. 29. This being peculiar 
 to the God of ifrael. i ^^v;. XVI. 7. Pfat.SlW.^. Jtr. 
 Xh 20. & XVII. 10.& XX.12.— " And all theChurches 
 •♦ Ihall know, that T am He," fays oar bleffcd Saviour, 
 •* that I .\M He, which fearcheth the Reins and Heart" 
 Kev. 11.25. i.e. that I am that very Being, formerly 
 i:nown by the Name of the God of Ifrael, to wl^oni alone 
 this Cliaradcr belonged. All ihs Churches Jhal I kno^^ if 
 
 K 
 
The Ij'ivini'y of ChrijL i I 
 
 He fovfook Shiloh : ( i Scri. IV. Pfil.LXX v ui l c ) 
 as he afterwards did the Temple of So'ciDon. (j^^- 
 VI r. 14.) And after theZ^^/j.W/.Captivity tlii:>Tckcii 
 of the divine Prefence was never more fcen. But tlic 
 pious Jews wereafiured by the laft Prophet under that 
 Difpenfation, after the building of the fecond Temple, 
 that their G^^and King would return to their Tem.pJe 
 again. iV/^/.Iil.i. "The IvORD whom ye fetk," long- 
 ing for his Prefence as in former Days, '' (lialJ fud- 
 *' denly come toHisTemple," where he ufed to dvv( 1] ; 
 " even theMeflenger [or Angel] of theCoYenant." — 
 But when he " came unto his own, his own received 
 " him not." (JoL I. 11.) For liis ancient Glory was 
 laid afide, and he appeared in ih^ Form of a Servanr, 
 and in the Likencfs of Men. Wherefore they put 
 him to Death for claiming to be " the Son of God 
 " and King of the Jews j" not knowing that he was 
 the Lord of Glory, i Cor. II. 8. See ILig. II. 7, q. 
 But if wc want any further Evidence, that Jt fus 
 Chrift was indeed the very God and King of lirael. 
 Jet us turn to the Vlth Chapter of Ifaiah, whete ws 
 faall find the Prcphft^xn a Villon, feeing " the Lord 
 *' fitting upon a Throne high and lifted up," as fole 
 Monarch of the Univerfc, and worfliippcd by \hc 
 lieavenly Horts as fupreme God, crying, *' Holy, 
 " Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hoih, the who'eEanh is 
 *' full of thyGlory."*— And then turn to the XJIth 
 B 3 Chapter 
 
 * Iloh, Holy, Holy, three Times. This Vi:ion wr.s .1 Viiloo 
 of one God in three Perfons. Of God the Father, Rom. 
 XI. 8. Of God the Son, Joh. XII. 41. Of God tlie 
 Holy Ghjft, Aa. XXVIH. 2>. The thrf.e, who faid, 
 ** Let us makeMan in our Image," Gefz. I. 26. Vxhofvi 
 Name was oronounced three Times in theOld-Tcnament- 
 Blcflinp. Num. VI. 24, 25, 2^. As the three Peifons are 
 dilh 6lly mentioned in thcNcw-Tcunment-B^iptifm, AJat. 
 XXVill. 10. AndiDthcNfv Teilamcnt Slg:1in2- iCor. 
 Xili. 
 
The 'Dh'tHtty of Chrijl. 
 
 Ciiaptcr of John^ 4if> V^erfe, and we (hall find, that 
 tliis God was Jesus Christ. " Thefe'rhin^ijs'* [v.z. 
 liie Things contained in Ifai. VI. 9, ic ] '^ laid 
 Eraias,_when he faw his Glory, and fpake of him." 
 And if we woiiid fee the fame Thing confirmed 
 over again, let us read the XLVrh Chapter of Ij'uiuh 
 riroughout, where we have tlie supreme God^ the 
 GcJ of I/raely faying, ver. 5. " i am the Lord, and 
 ^- iliere is !ione eife, there is no God befides me. — 
 ** ver. 6. There is none befides me :I am theLord, 
 *• and there is none elfe. — ver. 11. lUius faith the 
 "* Lord, the HOLY one of Ifrael. — ver. 12. I ha\e 
 *' made the Earth, and created Man upon it ; J, 
 ," even my Hands have flretchcd out theHeavens. — 
 *• ver. iS. Thus faith the Lord, that created the 
 ' Heavens ; God Himfelf, that formed the Earth 
 • and made It ; I am the Lord, and there is none 
 ^- elfc. — ver. 21. There is noGodelfe befides me. — 
 *• ver. 22. Look unto me, and be ye faved, all the 
 *" Ends of the Earl!) : for 1 am God, and there is 
 
 none clle." And if after all thi-s God- like Lan- 
 
 ge, this was Jcfas Chri/J^ St. Paul liiight well fny. 
 Who being in the Eorai of God, thought it no 
 
 " Robbery 
 
 >:in. 14 And it is obfcrved hj an antlent Jcj.lffy 
 
 Writer, that in fcveral Fexts in the Hcbreiv Bihle God is 
 -illcd by three Names. His Wods are as follows. 
 " Thus it is fiid, Excd. XX. 5. 1 am the Lord thy God, a 
 •' jealous God. [Jewovah, Elohim, Rl, are the U ords 
 '* lTcJ j7"*/iAC£',aiirvVerinJ to iheT/jrc^ b) which thcWorUi 
 " WdS m-uie. And thus tlie Children or Gad,AX\i\ theChil- 
 ** d.-en of Riuben^ij, Jyj/j.XXU 22. El, Elokim» 
 *' Jehovah : El, Elohim, Jehovah, Ae knoiveto. 
 •' A'ld uljy are ihefe mentioned twice ? Jkcaufc by them 
 " the World was made, and b'.'C.iufe by them the La-v 
 " was gii^en." Thus far l!ie Author of Mldrajh TiV}7n. 
 •■^ee Bp. Kiddir\ DsmonJlraUQn 0/ th( Mefuh, P»irt III. 
 
The 7)lvimty of Chr'ijl, I ^ 
 
 '' Robbery to be equal withGodi" (nor can we have 
 a plainer Comment on his Words, nor can we be at 
 a Lofs tor their trueMeaning) for lie could not have 
 appeared more as supremeGod, nor polFibly ipoken 
 
 in more dccifive Language than this.* And yet 
 
 nothing can be plainer than that St. Paul underrtood 
 the God freaking thro' the whole Chapter, to be 
 J ejus Chrijl. For thofe concluding Words in the 23d 
 Verfe, " I have fworn by my felf, — that unto me 
 " every Knee (ball bow, and every Tonirue (hall 
 *' fwear," he twice exprclly applies to JfusCkriJf, 
 Once in Ro?n. XIV. 10, 11. ** It is written, — Every 
 '^ Knee (hall bow to me." And again in Phil. II. 10^ 
 1 r. '' At the Name ot Jefus every Knee liiall bow." 
 Yea, the hij}ired IVi iters of the 'Neiv-Tcjiamevt- 
 feem con(^antly to conlider iht God ^nd King of Jfrael^ 
 wlio in the beginning created the Heavens and the 
 Earth, 23 tlie very fame Being, who aftcrwarJs dwelt 
 in Flell^, and was* called J lui Ch) i/l,ivom the Libcr- 
 ty^thcy take to apply io J Jus Chrijl ^ in their Writ- 
 ings, what was fo evidently f;.oken of the God and 
 AV;;^ of Ifraely in the facred Writings of tliC Old- 
 
 Tcdament. To mention hut two Inilancts more. 
 
 In ail the 150 Pfalms^ t!iere are none, which fcem 
 B 4 more 
 
 * The God that fpeaks in this Chapter, is— The God, ivho 
 
 created the Unkerfe, ver. 18. The God, v-ho was 
 
 known by iheName of ** the G<id of ifr.tel," ver. 3. that 
 is, the God who brought Jfrael q\xX of ,^f >/>/,;! nd led thtm 
 
 through the Wilderncfs And. the God who delivem* 
 
 the Jews out of the Bubyhnifn Cgpttiity, ver. 13. — Am 
 he affirms over and over, " I am the Lord, and there u 
 *' none elfe ; there is none beiidts me, there is nr ne befide: 
 
 " m." Of this very fame God. we read ifai. XL. 3. 
 
 applied to ChrilL Matt. I{[ :>. — And if^i. LH. 7. applied 
 toChrift, Rom. X. 15.— And ifai. XL. 10, 11. applied 
 toChiill, Joh. X. i^.— And ifi. XLI. 4. & XLIV, 6. 
 undXLVIlL 12. applied toChrift^Rcv. L 17. &XXILJ3. 
 
14 ' Tie ^Divinity of Chnjl. 
 
 more plainly to fpeak of the supreme God than 
 
 |the 97th and ro2ncJ And yet both theCe are con- 
 
 lidered in the Ncw-Teflament as fpeakingof Chriji^ 
 
 ''and accordingly are apphed to him. The 97rh 
 
 Pfalm begins with, "The Lord reigneih, let theEarth 
 i *' rejoice :" and an infpired UViter coniiders it as a 
 ^Reprefentation of the glorious Reign of the Mejfinh. 
 For fays he, [Heb. I."6.) " When he bringeth the 
 " firft begotten into theWorld, he faith. And let all 
 ** the Angels of God vvorfliip him :" referring to 
 the 7th Verfe of the 97th Pfalm, " Worfliip him, all 
 
 *' yeGods." And in the 10 2d Pfahn^ fpeaking of 
 
 the SUPREME God, the P/^/;;2//? fays, (ver. 25, 26,27.) 
 ^ Of old had thou laid the Foundation of theEarth, 
 
 and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands. 
 
 They Hiall periih, but thou (halt endure : yea, all 
 *' of them fliall wax old like a Garment, as a 
 *' Vefture (halt thou change them, and they (liall be 
 
 changed : but thou art the fame, and thy Years 
 
 fliall have no End." Which is exprefly applied 
 to Jjfus Chrijl in Heb. I. 10, 1 1, 12. * 
 
 Whereforf, from what has been faid, it Is 
 natural to obferve, 
 
 I. That the God and King of Ifrael we read 
 of in the OhJ-Te/lamrtit^ is the very jame Being who 
 afterwards became incarnate, and is called by the 
 
 Name 
 
 ^«"|ierc are comparntlvely but few PafTagcs in the Old Tef- 
 
 •^ Tient, in which ve may be certain, that it is God the 
 
 3 ,*Ther, who fpeaks. or is fpoken of. 7 here arc but few 
 
 * afTages which could rot have been applied to Chrift, with 
 
 as much apparent Juftice, as thofc alie;idy applied to him 
 
 by the infpired Writers of the New Teftament. if Chn^ 
 
 >• was not the God and King of ifrael, how can they be juf- 
 
 ' tificd in what they have done ? But if he was, the Coafe* 
 
 '•-^'jcnce is plain. 
 
The 'Divinity' of Chrij}. l^ 
 
 Name of Jesus Christ in xhtNnv Te/lnmenf. % i. e. 
 Jesus of Nazareth was really the King of the 
 
 Jews. So certain as the Writers of the New- 
 
 Teftament were divinely infpired, fo certainly may 
 
 this be depended upon. Therefore, 
 
 2. It is beyond us to imagiine any Evidences of 
 the Divinity of Chrift, which could polTibly have 
 been c;iven, more clear and llriking than thofe which 
 
 liave been already 'given.. In the Beginning he 
 
 created the Heaven and the Earth, even all Things 
 were created by him and for him. And he was the 
 God of Mraham^ the God of Ifaac^ and the God of 
 J.Koh \ whom they worlhipped, and to whom they 
 built Altars. He appeared to Mofc$ in the burning 
 Bulh as the fupremc God, and fpake the Language 
 
 of 
 
 X <* But what Difference is there then between God the 
 ** Father and God the Son ?" — I anfwer^ They are one 
 God, the fame in Subftance, equal in Power and Glory. 
 Joh X. 30. •* I and my Father are one." Compared with 
 Joh. XIV. 7, 8, 9, 10. — And yet wiicn we are baptlfed 
 •* in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 «* Holy Ghod," (Matt. XXVIII. 19.) and obferve how ip. 
 tlie Gofpel-Difpenfuion the Father fulhins the Dignity, 
 and (tands for the Rights of the Godhead, (Rom. III. 25.) 
 the Son becomes incarnate and is fet forth to be a Propiti- 
 ation for Sin, and the Holy Spirit inlightens and fanctifies 
 Sinners : I fiy, when we obferve thefe Reprefentations in 
 the facred Records, it becomes evident, that Father^ Son 
 and H'Jy 6'/'3/?,altho' they are but of?e Gody (i Joh. V. 7.) 
 plainly a<5t as tho' they were three dijiin^i Perfons.—.\T\<i 
 if our Reafon cannot find out hymv they are three, and-ytfT 
 but one ; pnd if God lias not thought it needful to'inflrud 
 . us in this Point : yet fo f^r as is revealed, fo far v;e may 
 believe ; and tiiat with a Faith fufiiciently didintfl' to lay a 
 Foundation for Pra»5lice. The Believer may now, through 
 the Mediation of liie 5o«,have Accefs, by the Afllflance of 
 the S/iritj to the Father. Eph. II. 18. 
 
h6 The T>ivlH'ify cf Chnjf. 
 
 of fupreme Deity from Mount Sinai. In the Taber- 
 nacle and 'Temple he dwelt in the Fct^n of God^ and 
 always fpake as thinking it no Robbery to be equal 
 %vitb God. To Jfu'iah he appeared as the Monarch ot" 
 the Univerfe, and was worlhipped by the heavenly 
 ' HoHs as fuch. And often he repeats ir, *' I am the 
 '" Lord, and there is none elfe, and befide me there 
 ■ '' is no God." Ai-jd t here fore yzfiWJ by h'unjelf^ tlicre 
 'being no greater to fwear by [Heh. VI. 13.) that 
 
 every Knee fn all bow to him Had he been truly and 
 
 indeed by Nature supreme God, what could he 
 J liave done, or what could he have faid, to have 
 it made more manit'eft ? 
 
 3. If after all, he was not by Nature God, but a 
 ^/^eing 17 finitely inferior \ not the Creator, but a 
 ' Creature ; the Jewilh Difpenfation, which was pro- 
 , felTedly dcfigned to efi:ablifh the Worfliip i)f the one. 
 , TRUE God, in.Oppofition to all others, was really 
 'calculated to eftabliih Idolatry (for aught I can fee) 
 and that forever. For he appeared ia the Form ot 
 ■God, and was taken to be fupreme God, and ena^St- 
 cd it as the firft and chief of all his Lbws, that no 
 i-God fhou'd be worfliipped but Himfe^f. So that to 
 deny ]iis Divinity, is to fay, that the God of the 
 Hebrews was an Impofior, and to declare Abrahamy 
 ' Ifaac^ Jacob, Mofes, and all their Prcphets^io be delud- 
 ed Idolaters : for him they all believed to be fuprenrwj 
 I God, and him they worfhipped as fuch.. 
 i 4. But on the other Hand, granting the Old 
 j|and New Tellamen^s to be divinely infpired, 
 ; we may behold the manifold Wifdom of God 
 
 , iTi^iiyincr out his grand Plan as he has done. To 
 
 God a]' h;s Works were known long before the 
 
 Foundation of the World. And among other 
 
 ;. Things, the Incarnation, and theDeaih of Chrift as a 
 I propitiatory Sacrifice for Sin, were full in the divine 
 
 View 'Now what Methods (hould be taken to 
 
 render 
 
The "lyivlmty of Chrifi. Ij 
 
 render Mankind, and the whole intellecflual S){lc;m, 
 fenfible of the infinite Dignity of him v;ho died on 
 the Ciofs :— — "Go," fays the eternal Father to 
 his Son, " Go, firll create the World for which 
 *' thou art to die, and the whole Syftem over which 
 ** thou art to reign, that how deep foever thirjcAbafe- 
 << mcnt may be, thine eternal Power and God-head 
 <* may be to be clearly feen by the Things thou haft 
 *' made. — Go, appear to Abraham^ Ijaac and Jacob'\\\ 
 ** the Form of God, and fpeak to Mofs^ and on 
 <' Mount Sinai, as plainly thinking it to be no Rob- 
 '' bery to be equal with God, and dwell in their Ta- 
 *' bernacle and Temple, and reign as God m^d King 
 <« among them ; that when in the FuhuTs of Time 
 *' thou flialt appear in the Form of a Servant and in 
 " the Likencfs of a Man, and bleed and die on the 
 ** Crofs, thy true Chara6ter may ftill be known. 
 " That when I come to perform this greatefl of all 
 " my Works, to give my only begotten Son to die 
 " for the World, it may be underi^ood by frail Mor- 
 *' tals, what it is 1 have done.'* * 
 
 God 
 
 * That the Son was employed by the Father as hisAgent 
 to create the Univerfe, feems to be implied in th^t Manner 
 of fpcaking in Eph. III. 9. «• Who created all Things by 
 " Jefus Chrid," and in Heb. I. 2. *' By whom he made 
 
 "the Worlds." And that his creating the World 
 
 manifefts him to be pofTeficd of eternal Power 
 
 and God-Head, is plain from Rom. I. 20. And that 
 
 the Work of Creation, and his other Works recorded in 
 tlie Old-Teftament, were dtfigned to afcertain his true 
 Character, as being by Nature God, in the View of frail 
 Mortals, notwithftanding the Greatncfs of his intended 
 AbafL-ment, is evident from the infpired Writings of the 
 New-Teflament ; as they abundantly improve them to 
 ■; this Pur pole. Other Kinds of iSeings God has employ- 
 ed ia his Dealings with a fallen World, viz, Angeh and 
 
 Mca. 
 
^^ The D'rSimty of Chrift. 
 
 God forefaw, his appearing in the Form of a Ser- 
 vant, and in the Likencfs of Men, would, unlefs 
 there was fome Method taken to hinder it, induce 
 Mankind to think him but a mere Man j and fo 
 prevent their feeing into the fubhme Nature and 
 Glory of the Chriftian Difpcnfation. In his infinite 
 Wifdom, therefore, he appointed him fuchWorks lo 
 do, previous to his Incarnation, as might cffedually 
 
 determine his true Charader. At hril, his Difci- 
 
 ples themfelves hardly believed him to be fupreme 
 God, or that he was to die, to make Atonement for 
 the Sins of the World : for their Eyes were not yet 
 opened to underftand the Scriptures of theOId-Tella- 
 ment, in which, both theCe Points were fet in the 
 flrongeft Light. The veryNight before He fullered, 
 it is plain, his Difcipies had but a feeble Senfe of his 
 
 fupreme 
 
 Men, And proper Care lias always been taken to afcer- 
 tain their true Charafter, as mere Creatures, in the facred 
 Writings. So Mofes appears but a tnere Man^ whatever 
 high Titles he had fometimes given him. And the Angel 
 employed by Chrift, to communicate to St, Jokn the won- 
 derful and glorious Vifions and Revelations he had in the 
 Ifle of Patmosy appears to be but a msre Creature y (Rev. 
 XXII. 9 ) and he made Confclence of informing St. J'ihn 
 in his true Charader. But Chrift appears in the Form of 
 God, and fpeaks and ads as thinking himfelf fupremcGod, 
 thro' a Ion'' Period of three or four Thoufand Years. And 
 granting him to be really fuch, there could not have been 
 a better Method to determine his true Charader to our 
 View, and prevent our entertaining too low Thoughts o 
 him, on Account of his appearing in the Form of a Servant 
 and in the Likenefs of a Man. If now we cannot givl^ 
 Credit to his Words, when he fays, ♦♦ land my FatlK \ 
 «* are one" : yet furely we may to his Works, while w // 
 view him as the Creator of the Uaiverfe, and as the Gcy 
 andKiKGof the Jews. i 
 
The 'Divinity of Chnji. I? 
 
 fupreme God-Head. He had before faid, that '« he 
 " and hisFather were one :" (J./;. X.30.) but they^ 
 did not fully underftand him. He now fays, " It 
 «« ye had known me, ye Ihould have known my 
 <« P'ather ahb : and from henccfortli ye know him 
 '« and have feen him." (Job. XIV. 7.) But they 
 hardly knew what he meant. Thererore Philips 
 being one of them, fays, " Lord, fliew us the Fa- 
 " THER, and it fufficeth us. (ver. 8.) Jefus faith 
 ** unto him, Have I been fo long v;ith you, and yet 
 <« hail tliou not known me, Philip ? He that hatli 
 " feen me, haih fecn the Father : and how faye/1: 
 " thou, (hew us the Father? ("vcr. 10.) Be'ieved 
 " thou not, that I am in the Father5and the P'ather 
 ** in me." But when afterwards their Ey^s were 
 opened to underftand the Scriptures of the Old- 
 Teftament, and in all thofe facred Pages to behold 
 him in the Form of God, fpeaking and acfting as 
 fupreme Deity, now theirFaith was fully coniirmed. 
 Indeed in the Days of his Abafement, while hii 
 Divinity was fo much concealed, his divine Glory 
 at Times flione into their Hearts, and tliey " beheld 
 <' hisGlory,[for Inftanceon iheMount, A/^z/.XVlI.] 
 " as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God." 
 (Jr::. T. J 4. J And fometimes under a divine Infli!- 
 cnce they cried out, " Thou art the Son of the 
 " hving God." (Mat XVl.xb.) But in general 
 their Senfe of his Divinity was but feeble ; fo that 
 after his Death they even doubted his being tlie true 
 Meffiah, (Mar, XVI. 14.) They knew not what ta 
 make of Things. {Luk. XXIV.) But after the Days 
 of PentenJ}^ when the holy Spirit, who infpired the 
 Writings of the Old-Teftament, was fo plentifully 
 poured out upon them, they never appear to u'cubt 
 3ga n ; but as in their Writings, fo no doubt ia 
 their Preachings, they take the utmoft Liberty ta 
 ^pp'y P?.lTi^«s in the Old-Teftament, evidently 
 C fpokcu 
 
C5 The Div'imly of ChrlJI, 
 
 ipoken of the fupreme God, the Crentor of thff 
 Univcrfe, the King of Ifrael, to Jefus Chrift ; and 
 without Scruple call him, " Immanuel, God, the 
 " true God, God[manife{l- in the Flefh, yceiy Goti 
 ^' overall blefled for ever." f 
 
 It is written in Ifai. IX. 6. His Name JI)aU be 
 called Wonderful. And indeed, of allThings that 
 ever happened in the whole intelligent Syftem, this 
 is the moft aftonKhing, that the eternal God 
 who created the Univerfe fliould become incarnate 
 n.nd die on theCrofs. 1 hat the Babe in the Man- 
 ger was " the mighty God, the everlafting Father, 
 *' the Creator of the Ends of the Earth !"— He 
 looked like another Child ; He grew in Stature lUce 
 another Child ; and when grown, he appeared in 
 Fafliion as a Man : his ancient Glory all laid afide : 
 toAppcarance, a Man of Sorrow, delpifcd, condem- 
 ned, hated, ridiculed, the laughing-ftock of many 
 in Town and Counrry, and thofc the moft rich and 
 honourable : at laft, crucified as a Malefactor. And 
 was this the eternal Jehovah ! — the God of 
 THE w^hole Universe ! — this mean Man ' — this 
 cucifiedCriminal ! — Well might his Name be called 
 
 Wonderful. O the manifold Wifdom of God, 
 
 iii 
 
 I And If his Difciples had fo little Senfe of his true Cha- 
 racter, as fapreme God, is it in the lead crcilible, that the 
 Man ipoken of in 7^f<7/.*XIX. i6. who called him go(^ 
 MaJ}er^ had {o much as one Thought of his fupreme 
 God head ? far from it, no doubt. It does not appear 
 that he thought hini to be the Mcfliah. But^our Saviour 
 'Icnew what he himfelf was, and pitied the Man, and faid, 
 «* Why cailcft thou me good ? there is none good, but 
 ** one God." As if he had faid, " V'oa call me Goad : 
 "* Do yoa know who I be, or vyhat you fay ? there 
 */ is none Good, but God ; do you thii.k'I am God* ?" 
 Words well contrived to put him on a farther Enquiry 
 V iato our Saviour's trje Charader. 
 
The Dhhi'ity of Chrlfl. •! i 
 
 In appointing his Son, previous to his Incarnation, 
 to appear in the Form of God, and Ipeak and acft 
 as thinking it no Robbery to be supreme God, 
 thro' a Period of three or four Thoufaiid Years, as 
 preparatory and introduftory to this aftoniihing A- 
 bafeme.it j that there might be fufficient external 
 Evidence, with Certainty, to determine his truo 
 Chara6ler, when appearing in Circumflances fo 
 
 infinitely below his real Dignity ! But it isTime 
 
 t-^ proceed, as was propofcd, 
 
 •If. To take a View of our blciTcd' Saviour " in 
 *' the Form of a Servant, in the Likenefs of Alcn." 
 
 As Man% He had an humm Body, which, front' 
 theSmallnefs of an Infant, grew up into the Stature 
 of a Alan.— And an human Scul, in all Relpefls like 
 ours,Sin only excepted. {Heb.ll. i6, 17.) — As Man, 
 God was liis Father ; even as he is theFather of the 
 whole Creation in general, and as he is the Father 
 of all good Men in particular : and in a (lili mcic 
 eminent Senfc. And God was hijs God. As he 
 faid, '' I afccnd to my Father, and vour Father, to 
 *' my God and your God." (7;,!?.'XX.,'17..J. As 
 Man, he was dependent on GoJ, aiid prayed to 
 him, and praifed him. As A^an^ he had ho Ability 
 to work Miracles ; but, tie Faikcr^ fahh h^e, *',tl"'-C 
 " dwelJeth in me,he doth the Works." (JuZ.'Xv. 
 
 10.) As Man, he loved the young Man in tlia 
 
 Gofpel for his humane Difpofition and refpcfiful 
 Behaviour : — He groaned at liis Friend Lazunu^ 
 (jrave— He wept over JerufaJtm — and was in an 
 Agony and prayed in theGarden— and cried oji ^jie 
 Crofs,*< My God, myGod, why haft thou for fikj.i 
 ii nie!" 
 
 As Mun^Hz grsvj in Knowledge and V/ifdom. 
 
 and in Favour with God and Man {LuL II. 52. ^ 
 
 !kj yet was at an infiniteRemove from ahjchde (Jm- 
 
 ' •ficme : yeajhe did not fo much as kaow when the 
 
 C 2 - Day 
 
-11 The T>kHmty of Chrifl, 
 
 Day of Judgment wotld be. [Mor.XWl. xi-.) The 
 Deity, who vas the Father * of the Man Chrift 
 
 Jefus, 
 
 * By the Father is rometlmes meant the firfl Per/on in 
 
 the Trinity, as in Mat. XXV JII. 19. i Joh. V. 7. — But 
 
 at other Times, is plainly meant the Deitv, without 
 
 Reference to any DilHndion of Perfons, as in Joh. IV, 
 
 23, 24. I Jch. II. 15, &c. 
 
 Cr.jEC. ♦♦ But if Jefus Chrift was God and Man, in one 
 rcrfon, how could that one Perfon fay, that he knew not 
 tr.e Day of judnment ? for if he did not know, as Man, 
 yet he did, as liC was God." 
 
 A.NSW. It was ufual for our Saviour to fpcak after this 
 Manner. Jsh.y^. 15^ *' I lay down my Life for the 
 5'heep." Now how could that one Perfon Ay, " I Isy 
 down my Life" ? Wa« the divine Nature to die ? and yet 
 vas not thai l^ature, Himfelf ? Certainly it was. For 
 he adds, ver. i3. ** I have Power to lay it down, and I 
 have Power, to take it again." Certainly the human 
 Kature had not Power to raife It fclf from the Dead. — 
 So Joh. VIII. 58. " Before Abraham was, I am." But 
 how could thcit be true ? for, as Man, he was fliort of 
 
 ^o Years old. So again, Jch, III. 13. " Even the 
 
 Son of Man, which is in Heaven." Certainly the human 
 Nature of ChriA was not then, nor ever had been in Hea- 
 %en. And if, confiUcnt with Truth, he might fay, that 
 the Son of Man is in Heaven^ altho' the human Nature 
 rever was there ; he might as well fay, the Son knovjeth 
 7:ot, shho' the divincNaturc did know. — The Manner of 
 fpeaking, when honeftly attended to, infiead of tending to 
 iniflead us, tends to fet the very Truth in a HrikingLight, 
 %iz. that he was very Cod, and very Man. •^^•^-' ?iTA agrea* 
 b!c hereto we may obfcrvc, that the fame Perfon that 
 r»ys, not the Son, but the Father only, in Mar. XIII. 32. 
 f.ys alfo, I and viy Father are one. Joh. X. 30. And, he 
 t'at hath fen me, hath feen theFather. Joh. XIV. 9. Thi 
 Father that d'welleth in mf, he doeth ihe IVorks. (ver. 10.) 
 N. B. In this lad Text, he, dilhnguiflilng between his 
 
 humarv 
 
"The 'Divhihy of Chri/f. 
 
 
 Ik 
 
 Jefus, how intimately foever united to him, had 
 never imparted to him the Knowledge cf this 
 Thing. The Union was fuch, as that he might 
 juftiy be named Immanuel {Mat. i. 23.) yet the 
 Natures remained d'l/lin^. And the human Nature 
 was not conl'cious to the Ideas of the divine^ only 
 ns they were imparted. This was the Cafe when 
 he dwelt on f-arrh, notwithftanding his perfonal 
 Union to the fecond Perfon in the Trinity ; and \X. 
 is Hill the Cafe now he is in Heaven, notwithftand- 
 ing his Exaltation and Glory ; He knows not the 
 Secrets of the Divinity any farther then they are 
 communicated to him. Therefore we have that 
 ExprefTion in Rcv.l,i. "The Revelation of 
 " Jefus Chrirt, which God gave unto him." And 
 doubtlefs, it is fimply Lmpoilible, that any Creature 
 fhould be confcious to the Ideas of the Divinity, 
 as a Man is confcious to the Thoughts of his owa 
 
 Heart, by immediate Infuition. But he was not 
 
 only a Mau., but aifo took c?i hi?n 
 
 The For77t of a Srrvant. x\nd as fuch, He re- 
 ceived all his Power and Authority from his Faihrr^ 
 as he conftantly declares, and all his Inftruc^ions. 
 For he came not of himfelf^ nor to do hii oiun IVill^ 
 nor to feek his own Gbry ; but his Father fent him ; 
 and he fpake and ac^ted altogether as his Servaat. 
 And as fuch, *' his Father was greater than he " 
 C 3 Ma. 
 
 human and divine Natures, calls hh divine Nature th 
 Father. Therefore, when he fiys {Mar. XIII. 32.) /Vsf 
 
 f,^e Son, but the Father only, the Senfc is plain. Nor 
 
 is it any Objedlion againft this, that Chrirt fpeaks of the 
 Father as di!tinc5l from hirafelf in both thefe Inftances. 
 For in the fame Difcourfe (/U7r.,XIII.' 19.) he fpeaks of 
 God the Creator as one diftina from himfelf. Ye* hira- 
 U\f was the God that created all Things. However, 
 'r hioifclf was a Creature too. 5ee all"^ Joh, VI. 42, 
 
The T>tvimty cf Chrtjl. 
 
 >^^/.XXVIII.i8. Job. VII. x6, 17, i8. & Xri. 40, 
 
 50. and XIV. 28. t 
 
 And a principal Command he had received of 
 
 '^\sFather, was to " Jay down his Life for hisSheep." 
 
 Jch. X. 15--18.) And fuch was his Regard to his 
 
 other's Honour, and to the Salvation of Sinners, 
 
 •hat he wa^ obedient, even to the Death of theCrofs. 
 
 Wherefore his Father loved him, and in Teftimony 
 
 of his Love, highly exalted him, and, as Mediator, 
 
 i"et him at the Head of the Univerfe, and made him 
 
 Heir of all Things, (for, as Go^i, he was, by an 
 
 underived Rrght^hoxA of all Things before, IJai.Vl.i.) 
 
 and gave him a Name above every Name, that to 
 
 the Name of Jefus every Knee fhould bow, and 
 
 every 
 
 f . ■ 
 
 ' All the Power and Authority, by which the Medintor 
 
 adts.in the v;hoIe of his Mediatoral Work is derived, from 
 
 the Father. He a6ts wholly as his Father's Vicegerent, 
 
 and by hisCommiflion. " He can do nothing of himfclf." 
 
 ' Joh. r. 19. He gives Gifts to his Church, (Epb. IV. 8. 
 
 Pfal. LXVm. i8.)Scndsthe HolySpirit, (>h. XIV. 16, 
 
 26. XV. 26.) Subdues all Enemies (R.ev. XIX. 11— 21. 
 
 I Cor. XV. 27. ) raifes the Dead, (Joh. V. 21, 25, 26.) 
 
 r.nd judges the WorH, (Ver, 27-) wholly by this derived 
 
 Authority. And ** it hath pleafed the Father, that alf 
 
 ** Fulncfs fhould dwell in him." Col. I. 19. i^nd 
 
 tjiefc Texts liere referred to, inftead of proving, that he 
 
 is not byNatureGod,(as the.'/rwArj iuppofe)dooniy prove, 
 
 that, he, who vv'as in the Form of God, and thought it 
 
 not Robbery to be equal with God, really " took on him 
 
 •* the Form of a Servant." — All mere Crcaturcsare (like 
 
 thofe born in a State of Servitude) God's Servants from 
 
 their very fir(t Exigence. But he originally was not God's 
 
 S.trvant. lie was at his own Difpofid, and became a 
 
 Servant by a voluntary Adi. '• He took on Him tlie 
 
 ** Form of a Servant." It is no Condtfcenfion for the 
 
 mod cx-^-lted Ar^ge! in Heaven to be God's Sc'rvant ; Kt 
 
 if was infinite Condefccnfioa for \\y "^ ^ ^ '-' -- ■' :" ' 
 
 cojie a Scrvict t^ his Father. 
 
The 7>ivlnity of Chrijf, *,^ 
 
 every Tongue confefs, that Jefus is Lord, to the 
 
 Glory of God the Father : Nothing being more to 
 
 the Glory of God the i^7//;^r,than To highly to ex'? 
 a Servant, who had Ihewn To great Regard to his 
 Honour, and to the Honour of his Law and Go- 
 vernment and facredAuthorityj — And nothing beine- 
 more to the Glory of God the Father,than that the 
 whole Univerfe ihould bow to the Name of his 
 great Vice-gerent, exalted to fit at his own right 
 Hand, as a Reward of his Fidelity to his Father^ 
 while acting in the For?n of a Servant. |j 
 
 Among all the Servants of God, none ever did fo 
 much to the Glory of God, nor ever fliewed fuch a, 
 Lo\'e to Righteoufnefs and Hatred of In:quitv,as he, 
 and none ever received fo great a Reward. He was 
 '• anointed withQil of Gladnefs above his Fellows" 
 (rich. L 9.) Above all his Fellow-fervants, whether 
 Angels or Men, and however faithful to him that 
 a] pointed them : none ever were, or ever will be 
 exalted to fo great Glory. 
 
 For He (its at the h£i7d of the Univerfe even at 
 
 ^* theFather's right Hand, far above all Principality, 
 
 *' and Power, and Might, and Dominion." (Eph. 1. 
 
 20, 21.) And here, as his Father's Vice-gerent, God- 
 
 C 4 Man^ 
 
 11 None will think, that it would be to the Henour of the 
 fupreme God, to give too high a Seat and too much Ho- 
 nour to any of his Servants. But mcthinks this was too 
 mucii lionour to be paid to a mere Creature : for it is 
 the ve-y No:ww, which the fupreme God •• fwears fljail 
 ** be paid to hnr.felf." (ifa. XLV. 23.) And it is a 
 M.ixini nith thr fupreme God, '* Not to give hisGlcry to 
 " arKJtlKr." (\h. XLII. 8. andXLVUI. 11 ) But that 
 Saying of our blcffed Saviour in Joh. X. 30. removes the 
 J)iiTiG'jity at once. " I and my Father are one." So 
 rarv we miy *' honour tli« Son even as we honour th^ 
 '.^ L,,!„r ' / jof^. v^ 20,.) Ar\d it is as God would hayc 
 ■ ' the Glory of God the Father." 
 
C6 The T>iv'imty cf.ChnJI. 
 
 Jlkn-Medlotcr-Kin^^ He is to reign till all his Ene- 
 mies are putunler his Feet, till fhe final Judgment 
 , is over, and sll the Affairs of an apolkte World arc 
 fettled. And then he will, in Tellimony that he 
 has a(5\ed ail as his Father's Servant, refisn this de- 
 legated Authority. And God Jlmll he all m all. 
 
 As his Father's Servant., He received this Authority, 
 to dei\roy the Works of the Devil, to bring Good 
 out of aD the Evil Sin had introduced, and put an 
 
 • End to all the Diforder and Confufion in the intel- 
 Icflual Syilem, confequent on the Apoibfy of An- 
 gels and Men : and having finifhed his Work, lie 
 refigns the Kingdom to the Father., the firft Perfon 
 in the ever-blell'ed Trinity, to whom, as fuch, the 
 Government of the World properly belongs, 
 and He fhall take the Kingdom, and rtign over the 
 
 I Univerfe for ever and ever. And Jefus Chrift him- 
 
 ; felf, as Mediator, fnall be fubjec5t to him, as is fui- 
 
 I table, that the God head only may be exalted, and 
 
 as it really is, fo it may appear to be, all in all. — 
 
 fyi^or while the Father reigns, the whole God-head 
 
 ' reigns in him. So that, while the Son, asMediator, 
 
 rchgns the Kingdom to him ; yet, as God, He 
 
 reigns in Him, and forever will. But his mediato- 
 
 rialGovernment he refigns,(even that delegatedAu- 
 
 thority,wheieby, as his Father's Sef-vant., he had ruled 
 
 the Unroerfey in the Capacity of God Alan- Mediator - 
 
 King',) having finiflied the Work which he was 
 
 impowered and authorized to do. * 
 
 As 
 
 * Object. * But it is v/rltten, that Chrlfl *' dial! rei^ 
 *♦ over the Hoiife of Jacob for ever." Luk. I. 33. " His 
 •' Kingdom is an evcrlafting Kingdom." Dan. VKI 27. 
 * His •* Throne Is for ever and ever." HeU. 1. 8. And 
 *• hefhdl reign for ever and ever." Rev, XI. 15.' 
 
 Anfsver. Christ, at prefcnt, as Medir.tor, reign* over the 
 fwboU Univerje, Ail Beings, ihe -father only excepted, 
 
 ( aw 
 
The "Dhlmty of Chnjl, tj 
 
 As God- Man- Mediator ^\n two diftincflNaturcs, yet 
 but one Perfon, He was his Father s Servant.-^'— As 
 fuch, he became obedient unto the DeatJi : There- 
 fore the Church is laid to be redeemed tuiih the 
 hloodofGod. (/^J?XX. 28.) And C^.Yisfaidtohave 
 laid down his Life for us. 1 Joh.lW. 16. — And, as 
 fuch, he afcended to Heaven and led Captivity cap- 
 tive ; and therefore St. PW applies what is fpokcrl^f 
 God in Pfal. LXVIII. 18. to Him, in Eph, IV. 8.— 
 And, as fuch, He was cxahed to the higheft Glory 
 in Heaven, and every iCnee ordered to bow to him ; 
 and fo what is fpoken of God in Jfai. XLV. 23. is 
 
 applied to him, in Phil. II. 10. For He was 
 
 God as well as Man, God-Man, one Pcrfon ; and 
 as God's Servant, in the greatWork of Redemption, 
 he was obedient unto Death, and as God's Servant 
 was rewarded with this high Exaltation 
 
 Thus (lands the Chara^er of Jefus Chrift In the 
 facred Writings of the Old and New-Te/iaments : all 
 which cannot be better fummed up than in the 
 
 Words 
 
 are under his Authority, i Cor. XV. 27. But when he 
 has fnilhcd the Work, for which he is invefled with this 
 tiniverfal Authority ^t will refign this univerfal CotKviiji- 
 on, and the Father take the Government of the Vniverfe. 
 However, he will, as Mediator, ftill ** reign over the 
 ** Houfe of Jacob [his redeemed ones] forever." It is 
 needful now, that Angels (hould be under liim, to Le hin 
 minirtring Spirits ; and that he fhould have full Authority 
 over Earth and Hell, for the Good and Safely of his 
 Church : But then the Mediator will need the Angels no 
 Jongcr for miniflring Spirits, to minirter to the Heirs of 
 Salvation, who will be all fafe in Heaven. Nor will he 
 have any Thing more to do with wicked ^^en andDe-vila, 
 As for th>! Wicked, their Day of Grace will be over ; and 
 reither they, nor the Devils can do any more Mifchief. 
 ITaving fhut thera up in Hell> he will give up the Keys to 
 his Father, 
 
sS "The T>'ivhihy of ChnJI, 
 
 VJoxds orthe//j&^/^,who feems to have had all thefe 
 
 Things in his View. " Who being in the Form 
 
 *' of God, thought it not Robbery to be equal with 
 
 *' God : but made himfelf of no Reputation, and. 
 
 *' took: upon him the fornn of a Servant, and was 
 
 ** made in the Likenefs of i\4en : and being found 
 
 ^^1 Failiion as a Pvlan, he humbled himfelf, and 
 
 H^Kame obedient unto Death, even the Decth of 
 
 ' ^^PIf Crofs. Wherefore God hath alfo highly ex- 
 
 " alted him, and given him aName which Ts above 
 
 " every Name : that at the Name of Jefus every 
 
 /' Knee fhould bow,of' Fhings inHeaven, ^Things 
 
 *' in Earth, and Things under theEarth ; and that 
 
 *' every Tongue (liould confefs, that Jefus Chrift is 
 
 " Lord, to thcGlbry of God the Father j" in whole 
 
 Nan^ headminiftcrs his mediatorial Kingdom, and 
 
 to whcfe Honour he profelTedly refers it. 
 
 And thus we have, as was propofedj^^ken a View 
 of Jefus Chrift ; pjiy as being in the Form of God^ 
 and fpeaking and acting as thinking it no Robbery 
 '^o be equal with Gcd : at»d then, as having taken upon 
 ^iim the Form of a hervant^ appearing in \\\z Likenefs 
 of Men, And have i^tw the Meth.od infinite Wif- 
 dom took lo afcertain his trueCharadler, that the 
 Greatnefs of his Abafement might not miilead frail 
 A'lortaJs, nor raife one fufpicious Thought of tha 
 infinite Dignity of, his Pcrfon, as our great 
 
 Immanuel. A^ now therefore, 
 
 I. What an inhi-sl^Ftondefcenfion was it in 
 
 the eternal God, the Creator of tiie Univerfe, who 
 
 jh^d appeared in the Form of God, and fpake and 
 
 ac^Ud as thiiiking it lio Robbery to be- equal with 
 
 God, thro' a long Period of three or four I'houfand 
 
 ''Years, to lay i-fide all his Glory, and from being 
 
 worlhipped as fuprenic God,to become of noRep<:- 
 
 ^tation, and even take upon him th.e Form of a Ser- 
 
 ''.'jnt and r'ie Likenefs of Men! Well mi^^lit S-. 
 
The T>ivi?uty of Chnjl/ ip 
 
 Paul urge this Example, as a powerful MnccmeiU, 
 on all tlie Difciples ot ChriiV, to be full of Love and 
 Condefcenfion towards one another. PLilM. i — 5.* 
 Bur, 
 2. How ingrateful, yea how impious would it bo 
 in us, to rake Occafion from his anpeuri";^ in the 
 Form of a Servant, and in the Likenels of Me| 
 which was for our SakeSy to take Occalion (I. fay), 
 this, to call hisDiviNiTY intoQueftion. — E(pc< 
 now fince we are fo plainly informed, ^y the 
 Ghoft, who inipired the Writers D*\\\t New-Tefta- 
 ment, that he is the very fame God who in the Be- 
 ginning cre'ifed the Heavens and the Earth, and 
 appeared to Abraham^ IJoac^ and Jacob, to Mofes and 
 IJalah, and who was believed to be the fupreine Gody 
 and woruT.pped as fuch by all the Patriarchs and 
 Propkt'ts : — Only becaufe he has laid afidc his God- 
 like Form, and taken the Form of a Seivant ; . and 
 inftead of fpcaking like a God from Mount Sinai, 
 
 appears and fpeaks like a Man ; Tfiat we (hould 
 
 immediately doubt his Divinity, and lo^k uponlii;n 
 as a mere Man, wlicn yet all this Abafcment was 
 
 for our Sakes ! How mull He look upon it !*- 
 
 How muft He refent it I 
 
 Just 
 * But how does his Argument lofc all its Force, as xhcJri- 
 
 ans interpret and underfland theApoflle's Words ! 
 
 •* Who being in the Form of God, by being his Minilfer 
 *' and Reprefentative, did n^Jl^oudly and vainly affumc 
 ** to be equal with God," &c. (thus Chutb) For what 
 Condefctnfion v/as it, for a mere Creature, as they fay he 
 was, not to afpire after fupi-enie God head ? Can a mere 
 Creature be looked upoo as very condefcendlng, becaufe 
 lie is rot as proud as Satan himfelf ? And can we fuppofe 
 the infpired Apoflle would argue thus, Ver. 8. " Let this 
 *' Mind be in you, which was alfo inJefusChrid," — « v-ho 
 " being but a mere Creature, was ^o very condcfcending, 
 •* as rot to pretend to be equal with God.'— — And yet 
 this mud be his Argument, as they interpret his Words. 
 
33 The "Drowity of Chrlj}. 
 
 Just thus did i\\t wicked Jews (yet we are more 
 to blame than they ; becaufe we have more Light, 
 and better Advantages to form a right Judgment of 
 his true Charaatr) I fay, juft thus did the iiicksd 
 Jeti'S: when they charged Him with Blafphemy, tor 
 Saying, " 1 and my Father are one." <« Thou" (fay 
 they) ** being a Man, makeft thy felf God." Here 
 'was his CnW,and here was theirPr^^. (Joh. X. 33.) 
 — He had, upon a likeOccalion, fome time ago, re- 
 ferred them TO tlie Scriptures of theOld-Tedament 
 in general, to dccine his true Charac5tcr ; (Joh. V, 
 185 39.)butto httlePurpofe. — He now thereforconly 
 refers them to a particular Paflage in the LXXXIld 
 Pfalm, the 6th Verfe, faying, ♦' Is it not written in 
 *' your Law, I faid, Ye are Gods ? And if he called 
 " them Gods," &c. i. e- '' If the TyptSj which 
 " were Shadows, were called Gods ; the Antitype, 
 ** "Ahich is the Subftance, mufi: be real God. U 
 " they had ih^Name^ He muft have the Ihrn^, For 
 *' tkeScripiure cannot^ in anyParticular,/'^ broken. Not 
 *' only all the Prophecies, but alfo all the Types of 
 *' the MelFiah mult be verified in him. You have 
 *' no Reafon therefore to charge the Melllah with 
 ^^ Blafphemy, for claiming to be the Son of God. ♦ 
 
 And 
 
 * It is worthy our Attention, that, In the facred Wruings 
 of the Old-Tcdament, the chief Rulers in Ifracl are called 
 Gods, {Excd. XXVli|»:28.) and Children of the most 
 High. (Pfal. LXXXil. 6.) V\ hich doubt Icfs was, be- 
 caufe they were defigned to be Types of Chriflt who was 
 by Nature Cod, and the very Son of God. 
 
 For, as has been before obferved, God himfcif was the 
 icing of thejews. As it is wrhten, " The Lord yourGod 
 ** was your King." I Sam. XII. 12. And this God was 
 Jefus Chrilt, as has been before proved. — Then he ap- 
 peared in the Form of God. — And tha^ there might be a 
 ^hado^ ©f the State he was afterwards to be in, when \n 
 
The Divinity of Chrlfl, 3 1 
 
 ''« And indeed notwithdandinoj theMeannefs of my 
 
 ** Appearance in your Eves, while you behold \xi'z 
 
 D *' in 
 
 the Form of a Servant, a^fling as his Father's Delegate^ 
 he con(tituted the Jewifli Rulers to be his Delegates then. 
 He anointed and authoiized them (iS^w.X. i. &XVf. 
 12, 13.) as he was to be anointed by his Father, and 
 fanHified zvi^fcrjt into the World, and to receive all his 
 
 Authority from him. They were called the l^ord^s 
 
 ' Anzintcdy the L^jrd's Mejjlfih, (as it is in the Original) 
 as that was the Name by which lie was to be knov/n. He 
 was to be called rhzChriJ}, i. e. lhc.*//2oinL'dy thcMeJiah ,• 
 for all are the fanicName,and mean the fameThing. J9/?. 
 
 I. 41. And they were direded from Time to Time 
 
 by xhdVord of thi Lord, which came to ths?n when they 
 went to enquire of the Lord, (i SaT?t. XIV. 18, 10. 
 and XXVIII. 6. and XXX. 7, 8. 2 Sam. 11. i.). AnJ 
 as Gods they fat upon the Throne of the Lord, and reign- 
 ed over the Kingdom of the Lord, (i Lhron. XXIX. 23 • 
 
 2 Chron. XIII. 8.) In all which, they were Types of 
 
 ^ the Mefiahy who in the Fulnefs cf Time was to become 
 incarnate, to be ancintsdy fan£lifiedi and fent into the 
 World, to aft in all Things according to his Father's 
 Commandment, as his Father's Delegate, and as fuch \<> 
 be exalted to fit on bis Throne in Heaven, at the Head 
 of the Creation, to govern the Church and the World* 
 — And thefe Types were named Codsy and called tbt 
 Children of the 77iofi High ; as the great Antitype was the 
 So7i of God, and one nvith his Father. — They were Sha" 
 donvs ; he is the Suhfance. They were called Gods 2 
 he is really God. So that this is the Force of our Sa- 
 viour's Argument ; •* Vv'hat theTypes were inKame ar.d 
 ** Shadow, that the Antitype mull: be in Reality and Sub- 
 ** ftance ; for the Scriptures cannot be broken : But thef:; 
 •* Types were Gcds in Name and Shadow : Therefore 
 '** the M^iah,who is theAntityp-, mud be 6'i>^ iriRealiiy 
 
 " and Subftance." Thus in the Jew ifli Sacrifices there 
 
 was a Shadow of Suhjlituiian, aad they were called 
 
 /itonsments ^ 
 
32 ^i^ T>k}ntfy of Chrtjl^ 
 
 ** in the Likcncfs of ^en, yet myTVorks, whIcH 
 " ^'ouallo fee, evidence myDivinity. If you cannot 
 
 - *' give 
 
 Jhonements ; Co in Jefus Chrift there was a real Suhjii* 
 tution, and a real Jtoneifient. (Sec ray Sermon on Gal. 
 3. 24.) And indeed, the IMcfliah mud be in Reality all 
 Uiat which the Types were in Na7ne and Shenx)^ othcrwifc 
 the Scripture would not be accomplifhcd and verified. 
 If any therefore fliould lay, **-that as the Jewish Kings 
 " were Gods by Ofncc, lb Ghrift was only a God by 
 *' Office ; as they only had the Shadow of Divinity, lo 
 ^* He only has the Shadow of Divinity ;" — I anfwer, 
 Then the Scripture is broken : The Types aie not ac- 
 con^plifhed in the Antitype. It is all a Shadc^wM(^}^. The 
 Subjiance is not come. And the prophetic Prayer^ 'with 
 which the LXXXHd t^falm concludes, is never to be an- 
 fwered. *' Arife, O God, judge the Earth : for thoa 
 *' Ihait inherit all Nations." For if is not a God, but a 
 Tncre Creature, that is to have *' the Hea-thea for hij 
 ** Inheritance, and the utm oft Parts of the Earth for hif 
 
 " PolTefiion." Pjal. II. 8. And if his Divinity is but 
 
 a Shadow, fo is his Atonement. The true Atonement is 
 rot come. The Types are not fulfilled. The Scripture 
 if broken. And we are yet in our Sins. For the Blood 
 of one mere Creature can no more make a real Atonement 
 than the Blood of another mere Creature. The Blood 
 of a Bull or a Goat, and the Blood of a mere Afan, arc 
 equally at an infinite Remove from any Virtue to make a 
 proper Atonement for Sin. All that has been -done is a 
 mere Shadow. ^hzTC is tt& Subjiance in it. And fo 
 the Scripture is broltm :: and the Truth of divme Reve- 
 lation, in general, overthrown. For \i any otie Thing, 
 held forth in aType or a Prophecy, Ihould failof Accora- 
 pli(hment, the Truth of that whole Revelation, in which 
 that Type orprophecy is contained, would be overthrown. 
 
 So that granting the Old-Teftanient to be divinclf 
 
 infpired, our $a?iour 9 ArgumcQt amounts 10 t Uri^t De* 
 si^nHratioo. 
 
Tie 'Dhinhy of Chrijl. 3 J 
 
 " giveCredit to my Wor.ds,yet furely you may to the 
 ** Works wrought by n\^ j. which evidently are 
 ^^ not the Works of a mere Man. And they arc 
 *' a fufficlent Proof that the Father is in me, and I 
 " in him, i. c. that I and my Father ar.e one.*' {Job, 
 X. 34 — 38.) So fpake the incarnate God,who of old 
 dwelt in thcirTabeniacle/rom whence thelf^ordafGad 
 ufed to come forth to their chief Rulers, when they 
 tame to enquire of the Lord, Then He was their God, 
 and King, and Oracle. Now all hisGlory is laid 
 afide. He is of no Reputation.. Nor can any 
 Thing he fays, nor all the mighty Works he had 
 wrought, ailwage their Anger, or keep their Hands 
 from Violence. He is obliged to leave theTemple, 
 D 2 where 
 
 The Senfc the Ariam give to tIicW<Jrds, is this. *• I and 
 *' my Father are one, i. e. engaged in the fame Dcllgn. 
 •' And wlicn the Jews ilico' Millakc thought he meant, 
 •* that lie was one nuitB God : He anfwers, / do not 
 •* mean^ I am God by Nature^ but only God by Office'.'* 
 — Query I. What was this Anfwcr to the Purpofe ? — 
 Query II. Why did not he exprcfly tell them, that he 
 only meant he was engaged in the fame Defign with his 
 father, as all other good Men alt ? This would have 
 cleared him from the odious Charas^tcr of a Blafphemer, 
 and prevented their taking up Stones again to ftone hiai. 
 And if indeed he was but a Man» all muH own, it was 
 hisDuty to have fpoken out, in as plain a Manner as Paul 
 and Barnabas did, when the People of Ly/ira took ihcin 
 for Gods, and were aboMt to offer Sacrifice to tiie»o. 
 (M. XIV. 15.) But to fuffcr himfcif to pafs for a Blaf- 
 phemer now, and foon after to be pronounced worthy of 
 Death for Blafphcmy ; and yet never clear up the Mat- 
 ter ; but leave his Difciples after him, to follow hisKxani- 
 ple, and call hin» '* God, the true God, God bicifcd for 
 ** ever,by whom and for whom all Things were created,'* 
 when he was as really a mere Creature as you aad I, i# 
 v/hat caa never be accounted fwr. 
 
54 37v 'Dlvlmty of Chrljl, 
 
 * •* . 
 
 M'here he was, and be gone. However,the Mat- 
 ter did not end here. For when they arraigned Him 
 before the High-Prlert, they renew the Charge of 
 JJlafphcrny, and pronounce him worthy of Death, 
 (^/^/. XXVI. 63— 66.) Nor did Pilate know how 
 to exprefs the Crime, for which he was put toDeath, 
 belter than in this Title put on the Crofs, Jesus 
 OF Nazareth the King of the Jews. So that 
 )iis claiming to be the Son of God and King of 
 THE Jews, coft him his Life. 
 
 And Ihall we crucify Him afreni,and put him to 
 open Shame, and juftify all the Condud of the 
 Jews towards him, by faying, He was indeed but a 
 Man ! — For if fo, it was Biafphemy indeed to pre- 
 tend to be fuprcme God. And we know, the B!af- 
 phemer deferved to die, according to the Law of 
 Mofci, 
 
 And what is there to tempt us to thii impiou*? and 
 ingratefu! Deed ? Not anyThing our blelTed Saviour 
 ever faid, or ever did : for he always fpake and acfled 
 in Charader. — As Gon^ when in the Form of God 
 — As Man, when in the Likenefs of Men — As a 
 ^ervani^ when in the P'orm of a Servant — As our 
 exalted Mediator^ now at the right Hand of the Fa- 
 ther ; from whom, He, as Mediator, has received 
 7i\\ his Power : and to whom, when he has liniHied 
 liis Work, he will, as Mediator, refign his delegated 
 Authority. Nor can any Thing he ever faid, or 
 any Thing he ever did, fairly conrtrued, once tempt 
 us to doubt his being by Nature fupreme God, after 
 fuch clear Evidences of his Divinity have been 
 given us. Nor can I think what fliould induce us 
 to doubt his Divinity, — unlefswe fecretly imagine, 
 there was no Need, that the Creator of the 
 Univerfe fliould become incarnate and die on the 
 Crofs for us : V/e were not fo bad, nor was Sin fo 
 great an Evil, as to make fuch an Atonement nced- 
 - ' fyl. 
 
The 'Dhhiity of Chrift, "35- 
 
 fu!. And if this be nt the Bottom, let us honed- 
 
 ly fay fo, that the World may know the trueGround 
 of our Infidelity, and fee it all fummed up in a tew 
 Words, «' The whole need not a Phyfician, but 
 *' they that are fick." 
 
 1'his was the veryCafe with the unbclicvingj ews, 
 and the chief Reafon of their rejecting Chriffianity. 
 They had an high Opinion of their own Goodnefs ; 
 nor could they conceive why they might not be 
 accepted with God on the Foot of their own Righ- 
 teoufnefs. And therefore the Gofpel-Way of Salva- 
 tion, thro' the IVlediation and Death of the Son of 
 God, appeared ncedlcfs in their View, and was 
 therefore absolutely incredible in their Sight. This 
 they fiumbled at, as the great JiumhUng-Sioney as St, 
 Paul tells us, who was intimately acquainted with 
 the whole Affair. fi^5;n. IX. 30— 33) It did bear 
 too hard upon their moral Characlcr, as it fuppoftd 
 them fo infinitely odious and Keli-deferving in the 
 Sight of God, that nothina; Ihort of the Intcrpofition 
 of his own Son, as an Expiatory Sacrifice, could 
 open a Door for him, in- Juftice and Honour, to 
 
 pardon and fave them. But how exceeding un- 
 
 rcafonable w^as this their ConduA, as their own 
 Law fo p ainly held forth the infinite Evil of S:n, 
 in threatning eternal Damnation for the leaft Tranf- 
 grefllon ? {Gal. III. 10.) Which mJght cafily have 
 led them to a Senfe of their Need of an Atone- 
 ment, of infinite Value, had their Hearts honefily 
 lain open to Convidtion. - 
 
 And is it not worthy our Obfcrvation, 'that thofe 
 rmong pro^'cifed Chrlllians, who have denied the 
 Divinity of Chrift, have been wont generally a!fo to 
 dcnv — our natural Depravity — the infnite Evil of 
 Sin— the Eternity of Hell-Torm.nts— theNecelFity 
 of any proper Satisfaftion for Sin— the Do^ffrinc of 
 Juililkition by Faith alone ?— And perhaps, to be a 
 '^ ^ D Z little 
 
^"Th Divhuty of Chrip, 
 
 liUTle more confident with themfelvcs, they ought 
 10 deny the Infpiration of the O//^ and JSetv-Tefla- 
 mentSy in which the Divinity of Chrift, and thefc 
 
 ether Dodlrines, are fet in fo flrong a Light. 
 
 And indeed Dcifm has been for fome Time growing 
 to be the moft faHiionable Scheme among the po- 
 lite and genteel Part of the Nation.—^ — And loofe 
 Principles and loofe Practices are preparing us apace 
 tor all thofe heavy Judgments, which feem to be 
 coming on our Nation and Land. X (Judg. IL ii — 
 2S^ Jer. XVIII.9, loj 
 
 3. If Jefus Clirift be in very Deed tlie God that 
 created the Univerfe, we may be alTured, FJe is in 
 tvery Refped fit and fufficient for tlie whoJe Work 
 lie undertook ; nor wilJ he, nor can he, fail to ac- 
 complilh the whole Defign he had in view. He 
 "^•as originally unobliged to do a Creature's Duty, 
 > eing by Nature God ; and fo at Liberty to under* 
 take, and had where- wath-all to pay our Debt, infi- 
 ;^ite as it was : whereas, the whole Creation had not 
 :-' Farthing to fpare for us, owing all they had done, or 
 could do, to God,on their ownAccount. — \x was ho- 
 Jiourable to God, to appoint fiich aSurety for us ; he 
 'was one, God might honorably truH: and deal with, as 
 he was equal with God, and Fellow to the Lord of 
 JHoJfs. [Zech.XlM. 7.)— He was worthy theRegard of 
 the infiniteMajefly,nble to fecure the Honour of his 
 LaWjeftablifh his Authority, and anf^ver all theEnds of 
 Government. He was fit to be admitted, as Me- 
 diator, into his PrefencC'Chamber i to be exalted 
 
 to 
 J Salmon, fpeaking of the prefent Sta*- of Religion in 
 England, fays, *' Vice and Profanenefs nign triumphant 5 
 ** the facred Truths of Chriihaniry are qatfho.ieii and 
 <' dilputed ; and a Man that is not an InfiJcI, is fc^arcc 
 •* allowed to have common Sci.le, among thofe that 
 *' Jgok cpon theiifclves to he the polite World." 
 
 Salmon's Geo^. ^Hijh Cram. Pa^. 245. 
 
The TOtvimty of Chr'ifl. ^f 
 
 tor fit at his right Hand,— a very unmeet Place for a 
 mere Creature ; and to be wor(hipped by all the 
 heavenly HoAs, in his Father's Prel'ence ; the very 
 Thought of which, I am pcrf^vaded, no mere Crea- 
 ture in that World could poffibly endure, but ra- 
 ther with \\\tAngcl\\\Rev. XXII. 9. would fay, See 
 thou do It not ; for 1 am but a mereCreature ; worjhip 
 
 God. {Luk. IV. 18.) And fit to fit at thcHead of 
 
 theUniverfe,to be madeHcad over ail Thing;s, to go- 
 vern the World and the Church ; a Place too high 
 for a mere Creature, a Trull too great to be repofed 
 in one by Nature mutable, fallible, Ihort-fighted ; 
 and meet only for Immutability Jnfallibility,andOm- 
 
 nifcience. And fit finally to judge the World, 
 
 and as the great Arbitrator between God and his 
 rebellious Creatures, to fee Right done, and caufe 
 Juilice to takcPlace : an Honour too great for a mere 
 Creature, and a Work too d.fncult for any but the 
 Omnifcient, who " only knows the Hearts of all 
 '^ the Children of Men." — ]3ut Immakltel is fit 
 tor all this, wortliy the Hcjnour,. and qualified for 
 the Work j and may be tlius employed, thus ex- 
 alted, thus worfhippcd, — not inconhnent with, but 
 
 to ike Glory of God the Father. Nor can we doubt 
 
 but that he is able to fave to the uttcrmoft all that 
 cyme to God by him, nor fear but tijat he will ac- 
 compiilh all his Defigns of Grace. ^' Flow Leau- 
 *' tirul upon the Mountains are thcFtetof him 
 ** that bnngeih good Tidings, kt. that faith unto 
 *^ 2ion, Tfiy God reigneth 1" IfaiA.M '•. ap- 
 plied to Chrifi. Rom. X. 15. . / r 
 4. But if indeed He was the God Ui\i created 
 the Univerfe ; Oh, how awful and lolen^n thel^.o't ! 
 If indeed He was th- God that created ihcUniverfe, 
 who hupg incarnate oi; the C rofs, '^ kt forth to be 
 *^ aPropliatioa fjrS.n, th.K Godm;ght he iuit •" 
 Wlut Ihuii we fay ! What Ihall wc thirk » "* 
 
 i^ 4 LJ;T 
 
3 3 The T>mmty of Chrijl. 
 
 Let us look up, and behold him—furrounded Byr 
 Thoulands of Speaators, infulting— " If he be 
 " the King of Israel" [indeed he was, but they 
 knew it not ; for had they known it, they would 
 not have crucified the Lord of Glory] If he 
 *' be the King of, Israel, they fay, kt him come 
 *« down from the Crofs, and we will believe Him." 
 — They infult j — He prays, " Father, forgivet hem, 
 *' they know not what they do." And with all his 
 Divinity concealed, as one forfaken of Heaven, and 
 caft out from the Earth, there he hangs, and bleeds, 
 and dies ! 
 
 For as ourRebellion, with all its Circumftanccs, 
 Jiad been public, as it were in the Frefence of the 
 whole int'^'liocnt Syftcm ; fo now the Satisfa(5lion 
 muft be as publickly made. Satan, God's Ene- 
 my, and our inveterate Foe, had feduced our fiift 
 Parents, and in them virtually the whole human 
 R.-'ce.to trr.nfgrefs the divineLaw,and cart ofFthe di- 
 ne Authorit}', and join with him. — And here on 
 ':rth Satan had feu up his Kingdom, in the Sight 
 Htaven, and in Defiance of the Most High. — 
 ;id exulting in a'l his Mifchief, he was ready im- 
 )Ully to fay, " In Spite of God, and his Son, the 
 *' Day is my own. For if God pardons an apo- 
 «' flate World, doorned toDeath,then will it appear, 
 *' that he has no Regard to his Law, or to his 
 ■ llireatning, or to impartial Juftice ; which, 
 when I was driven out of Heavtn, he pretended, 
 ^'' was the Motive. Nor can it fail to be Matter 
 ^' of eternal Triumph to us, to fee the Honour of 
 *'• his Law and Government and Authority given 
 
 ** up, tofave hi; Creature, Man. Or if he re- 
 
 '• figns the whole human Race to De(\ru(5^ion, as 
 " he certainly 'vill, if he deals by them as he did 
 ^^ by us, it will be Matter of etcrrnal Conlolation 
 ^' and Joy, to fee, we can ruin Worldsj as fai^ as 
 
 <* he 
 
The T>lvhi!ty of ChnJI, ^^ 
 
 «« he can make them. That, let_ him take what 
 " Courle he will, we are fare of an eternal Tri- 
 
 " umph." So flood the Cafe. And all the 
 
 Inhabitants of Heaven looked on, no doubt, to fee 
 the Event. 
 
 " The Honour of the divIne.Government," faid 
 the ETERNAL SoN, * " muft and ihall be fecured. 
 
 The 
 
 • I call Him, the eternal Son, becaufe he was not only 
 *' made of the Seed of David, according to the Flefh ;" 
 but alfo '* declared to be the Son of God with Power, 
 *' according to the Spirit of Hoiinefs," i. e. as to his di- 
 vine Nature, *' by thcRcfjrredion from thcDead." Rom. 
 I. 3, 4. Agreable to thofe Words in Mic. V. 2. " Thou 
 •< Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the 
 «' Thoufmds of Judah, yet out of Thcc {ball he come 
 ** forth" (i. e. be born) *' that is to beRuler in Ifracl ; 
 ♦« ^hofe GOf ^i<3s fciith ^±z fime Word in the Origi- 
 nal, before tranflatcd come forth) *' have been of old, even 
 ** FROM Everlasting." i. e. W^s he was the Son of 
 David accorjiijg to the Flefh, in 7 ime ; fo from eternal 
 Jge! he was the Son of God, as to his divine Nature. 
 Therefore called, by Way of Eminence, God's oiun Son^ 
 and his only begotton Son. Joh. III. 16. Rom. VIII. 32. 
 
 Qneft. I. How then is Chrift " the firft-born of every 
 Creature "? or as it ought rather to be rendered, *' the 
 
 firlt-born of the whole Creation." Col. I. 15. 1 an- 
 
 fwer, I. Not as to his humanNature ; for that was born 
 not two Thoufand Years ago. 2. Nor as to his divine 
 Nature ; for that, iniiead of being the firil-born of every 
 Creature, was the Creator of tlie whole Univeife, 3. Rut 
 with Refpea to t/?e Privileges of the Birth- Ri'^ht, (Pfal. 
 LXXXIX. 27.)he being appointed " Heir of allThi'^gs." 
 Hcb. I, 2- In which Ifaac was a Type of him. See Gen. 
 
 XXV. 5. All Things were created by him and for. 
 
 him, originally ; and now, as Mediator, he is put into 
 ^'■jlfcilion of all Things, as the great Heir of the '-jchole 
 
 Univirfe^ 
 
4» The 'Dlvhihy of Chnji. 
 
 The Law is holy, juft and good ; and mufl: and 
 fiiall be magnified and made Ironourable. Sin is 
 as great an L vil a-s my Father's Law Ipeaks it j 
 and muf\ and Ihall be confidered and, treated as 
 fuch ; and ihat in.the Sight ot the whole Syftem. 
 For my Father's Authority muft and lliall be 
 
 publickly maintained. And vet Satan may be 
 
 difappointed of his expeded Triumph : For the 
 human Race need not be lefigned to Ruin ; for 
 ]a>. I am willing to become incarnate, and die in 
 tlieir Room. — Behold, here \ am ! Pfal. XL. 7. 
 " Thou art my beloved Son,, in whom !• am 
 well-pleafed ;. thouloveftRigliteoufnefs and hateft 
 Iniquity, and art my expp.es^ Image/' bid 
 the eternal Father ; '* and even as thou haft faid, 
 fo (ha^l It be. The Seed 2/ the Woman jliull bruife 
 the Serpent^s Head. Gen. III. 1-5. Thy dying Love 
 (liall dci'eat the Dcfig^^s of his infernal Malice." 
 Wherefgre fee hiin now on the Crofs, " fet 
 forth to be a Propiiiation for Sin, to declaie the 
 Rightcoufnefs of God, that God might be juil, 
 and yet juftify the Sinner that believes in Jeius." 
 [ Rm, ill. 25, 16. And there he fpoih Prlndpalitiet 
 • 4ind PinvcrSy faps tlie Foundation of Satan's King- 
 dom, aad even triumphs over him on the Crofs, Col. 11, 
 15. And all in Sight, as it were, of the whole in- 
 telligent Creation. I Pet L II. And fuited to girc 
 ; uoi v^ial ljiAru<5Uon. £ph, ill, lo. 
 
 Look 
 
 Univerfe. And hanng thus tlic Eirth-Right, he is with 
 Propriety called, tkefirji-born cf the ivbole Creation. 
 Qwcft. 2. How is Chrift the ** Beginning of the Creation 
 
 " of God" ? Rev. III. 14. 1 anfwer, The Word in 
 
 the Original figniiies, The Beginning y the Chief, Princi' 
 patity. Dominion. And the Meaning is, that Chrilt, at 
 Mediator, is the Head and Ruler of the Uoiverfc, sukI 
 the great Chiif of the CrsatiQn o/Cod. £ph. I. ai. 
 
The 'Divtmty of-Chrrft. J{\ 
 
 Look up, and ftand al^onifhed at thi^ greateft of 
 all God's Works. The Creator of the ITniverfe 
 on the Crofs ! djing as a.prop.iiatory Sacritice for 
 Sin ! offering up Himfelf to hfs Father^ as a Sacri- 
 fice of AtoAement for the Sins ot the World:'— 
 That by Faith m his Blood we might be j unified 
 >and faved. 
 
 And was there indeed fuch infinite Goodnefs in 
 the divine Nature, that God could -fitid it in his 
 Htarr to do thisThing! aThing,of aNature fuperior, 
 infinitely fuperior to the Creation of Thoufands and 
 Millions otTucli Worlds as this ! And wasSin indeed 
 iuch rn in^nite Evil, that nothing could expiate it,, 
 but fuch a Sacrifice as this ! Sin, which we, rtupid 
 Mortals, fee folittleEvil in I And did X\\t eUrnalFather 
 Talue the Honour of his Law arwi Government more 
 than the Life of his Hon ! And if thefe Tilings were 
 done in the green Tree, what will be done in the 
 dry ! Where will the unrighteous an<l ungodly ap- 
 pear, when fhis Jefus comes in flaming Fire to take 
 v^'cngeance on them that Tcnow not God, and obey 
 not the Gofpel ! How vain will it be to cry for 
 Mercy ! how vain to hope that impartial Jufticc 
 will relent ! The Son of God prayed, " O mv 
 *' Father, if it be polfible, let this Cup pafs from 
 ** me ;" and even agonized in Blood !— But it was 
 not pofTible.: Juf^ice muft be fatisfied : the Son of 
 <jod himfelf muft die : therefore impenitent, Chrift- 
 jcfs Sinners cannot cfcape : nor can they ever be 
 releafed : But ** the Smoke ot thv^ir Torment will 
 •' afcend for ev^err and ever." 
 
 That God is in Ear-neft, when he threatens to 
 puni(h im|)e4rrte«t SifMer^ with eternal Damnation, 
 ■cannot be made Pierre evident,lhan it is by theCrofs 
 of Chrift. However, it may be moix; attended to, 
 and fo work a more univerfal Covi6tion. Yet their 
 eternal Damn«uon, i( fek, will r>ot be a greater 
 
4^ The T>hinUy of ChnJ}, 
 
 Proof, that God was in eamefl, than the Death of 
 his Son on theCrofs. — The whole intelligent Syftem 
 have here the ftrongefl: Evidence of the impartial 
 Rectitude of the divine Nature, and of the Inflexi- 
 bility of the divine Jullice, that can polhbly be 
 given. And at the fame Tune, the boundlefs Good- 
 nefs of the divine Nature fet in the ckareft Point 
 
 of Light. Wherefore, to conclude, let us here 
 
 behoM the " Glory of God in the Face of Jefus 
 «< Chrift ;" that beholding " in this Glafs,theG!ory 
 " of the Lord, we may be changed into t.he fame 
 »' Image, from Glory to Glory. That fo the Gof- 
 ■^^ pel may become tlie Power of God toourSalva- 
 *' tion. That while Chrift crucified is to fome a 
 *' ftumbling-Block, and to others Fooliflmcfs, He 
 <^' may be to us the Power of God, and theWifdom 
 *' of God. 
 
 , Now to him " who loved us and gave himfelf 
 '< ** for us, be Glory, Honour and Praife for ever and 
 
 <' ever." Amen. Even 
 
 To Him, who is " the Alpha and the Omega, 
 
 ^^ the Almighty, the fame Yefterday, to Day, and 
 
 «' forever, who is God, the true God, the mighty 
 
 3ou, the holy one of Ifrael, fitting on a Throne 
 
 high and lifted up, God over all blefled for ever, 
 
 ^' by whom and for whom all Things were created" 
 
 — even toHiM let *' every Knee bow in Heaven and 
 
 ; " onEarth:"— and it will be fo far from derogating 
 
 or detra6ting from theMonour, that it will be " to 
 
 *' tl eGlory of God the Father." For, '* he aad his 
 
 " Father are One." — Yea, " there are Three that 
 
 ^' bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, 
 
 " and the Holy Ghoft : and thefe three are One." 
 
 And to ffiis One God in three Perfons, to whom 
 
 we were dedicated in Baptifm, and from whom ail 
 
 BJeffings flow to us, even to Him, b^ afcribed " the 
 
 Kingdom, Power, and Glory for ever." A; 
 
The Millennium. 
 
 Revelation, XX. i, 2, 3. 
 
 y4nd I fazv a?i jingel come down from Heavett^p. 
 having the Key fl^ the bottomlefs Pit, and d 
 great Chain in ms Ha'ui ^nd he laid hold 
 on the Dragon, that old Serpent ^ zuhich is the 
 *J)evil and Satan, and hound him a Thoufanil 
 T^ears. And cajl him into the bottomlefs Pit^ 
 and fJjift him up, and fit a Sea! upon him, that 
 he foul d deceive the Nations no more, till ths 
 Thoufand Tears fJjc aid he fulfilled, 
 
 ^^t-###N a great Variety of Refpeas, the 
 ^?^#-^-^i^ Bible is the mof^ remarkable Boak in 
 -^ \ I !> X^ tlie World. In it we have God's mo,- 
 *^^-^#-^^"1^ ral Chara(5ler clearly exhibited toView, 
 #«^^-^^ by a Hiilory of his Gondu6t, as moral 
 Governor of the World from the beginning; : and 
 the Nature of fallen Man painted to the Li^, by si 
 Pliiiory of their Behaviour for four Thoufand Years. 
 In it we liavc opened the glorious and altoni(h-ing 
 Method, that has been entered upori, to difappoint 
 all Satan's Dcfigns, by the Interpofition of the Soa 
 of (tod ; and are informed of his Birth, Life, Death, 
 Refurredion, Afcenfion and Exaltation, and of the 
 ious Defigns he has in View. And the wh.ole 
 cnnfrivcd as to be admirably fuited to all the 
 lances and Needs of a good Man \ That, 
 
44 The Milkiimum, 
 
 as it was defigned to be the good Man's Book, in a 
 peculiar Senfe, fo it is pcrfec5lly fuited to his Cafe. 
 *' It is profitable for Do(ftrine, for Reproof, for Cor- 
 'Srecftion, for Inftruchlion in Righteoulhefs, that the 
 «* Man or God mav be pcrfe(5l, thoroughly furnilh- 
 « ed to all good Works/' {iTimAW. 16, 17.) 
 
 That linrere Concern for the Caufe of Truth 
 and Virtue, for the Honour of God and Intereft of 
 true Religion, which is peculiar to a good Man, 
 whofe Chara<5tcr it is to love Chrift above Father 
 and Mother, Wife andChildrM^, Houfes and Lands, 
 yea, better than his own Life, muft naturally fub- 
 jcct him to a peculiar Kind of SoHcitude. Even as 
 a Child.of a truly filial Splrlt,is pained when it goes 
 ill with his Father's Family, to whofe Intereft he is 
 Clofely attached ; and has a whole Syftem of inward 
 £enfations,that a Stranger intermeddles not with. — 
 The BiELE, the good' Man's Book, is, therefore, 
 Xvifely adapted to eafe the good Man's pained Heart, 
 •and afford Confolation in this interefting and moft 
 important Point ; as it gives the ftrongeft AITuran- 
 ces tliat the Caufe of Vertue fliall finally prevail. 
 
 How infupportable muft the Grief of the pious 
 Tews have been, fitting on the Sides of theRivers of 
 Sabylon 1 *' There we fat down," fay they, " yea, 
 '* we wept when we remembred Zion." And " on 
 ** theWillows they hung theirHarps," nor could any 
 Thing divert their Minds. " U 1 forget thee, O 
 *' Jerufalem, let my rightHand forget her Cunning. 
 *' If I do not remember th>fe,let nivl^ongue cleave 
 *' to the Roof of my Mouth." (Pfal.CXXXVW.) 
 —How infuppcrtable, I fay, muft their Grief have 
 been, while their glorious holy Temple, and their 
 holy Citv, the Place of all their facred Solemnities, 
 were lying deiolate, and God's People in Captivity, 
 had it not beeli for thatPromife, fo often repeated, 
 !fX\^x. after feventy Years God would viftt them, and 
 
The M'dlenmum. y^jT 
 
 caufethein to return to tjieir own Land. God knew 
 before- hand the Anguiih, which would be apt to fill 
 their Hearts, the finking Difcouragcments, and ali 
 the Train of dark and gloomy Thoughts, they 
 would be incident to ; and before-hand provided a 
 Remedy. Yea, no fooner had he denounced their 
 Doom in the XXXIXth Chapter of Ifaiah^ but im- 
 mediately in the next Chapter,and for ten or twenty 
 Chapters together, does he provide for their Support. 
 " Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People; fpeak com- 
 •' fortably to Jerufalem, &c. kc. 
 
 So, how infupportable would have been the 
 Grief of the Church of Chrifl:, thro* the long, dark, 
 cruel Reign of myftical Babylon, while they beheld 
 Error and "VVickednefs univerfally prevail, Satan 
 getting his ^Vill in almofl every Thing, and to Ap- 
 p:arance no Signs of better Times, but all Things 
 wearing a dreadful Afpect before tliclr Eyes j how 
 great the^ Gri.f j how finking tlieir Difcouragc- 
 ments, how almoil infuperable their Temptations 
 to apoflatire,and forfake aCaufc thatHeaven feemed 
 to forfake, had not the Day of Deliverance been ex- 
 prelly foretold, and the Glory tliat fhould follow 
 opened to View, by the Spirit of Prophecy ! Bu^^n 
 a firm Belief that the Caufe they were engaged in, 
 and for which they fpilt their Blood, would finally 
 prevail ; and prevail in this World, where they 
 then beheld Satan reigning and triumphing, .1 fay, 
 in a firm Belief of th;s, the whole Army o*^ Martyrs 
 could mu'ch on to Battle couragioully, willing to 
 facrifice their Lives in the Caufe, not doubting of 
 final Vicftory, aliho' they themfelves muft fall in 
 the Field. 
 
 Jn'deed, were the Salvation of his own Soul the 
 only Thing the good Man had in View, he would 
 naturally be quite eafy upon a full . Afllirance th^t 
 this was fecured. So, hadMofes cared for nothing 
 
 E 2 •» - ^^^ 
 
j^6 The MUlennium, 
 
 but the Welfare of himfelf and of his Pofterity, he 
 liiight have been fatisficcJ, while the whole Congre- 
 gation of Ifrael were dcftroyed, if he might become 
 a great Nation, and that without any Sollicitude tor 
 ilie flonour of the Great Name of the God of 
 Ifraei : Yea, ahlio' the Idolatrous Nations round 
 •about were fully eHabliflied in the Delief of the 
 Divinity of their Idols, and brought to look upon 
 ilie God of the Hebrews with ever fo great Con- 
 tempt by the Means. But, attuc'ied as he was 
 to the Honour of the God of Ifrael, nothing could 
 give him Satisfadion, but aProfpecSl that that would 
 hefcq^rtd. The Welfare of himfelf and of his 
 f'amily w as of no Importance in his Eftecm, com- 
 pared with this. {"^tQ Excel XXXII.) 
 
 It niuft, therefore, be rem»-mbred, that, as the 
 Son of God left hisFather's liofcm, and the Realms 
 tjf Light and Glory, and expired on the Crofs in 
 llie utmoft vifible Contempt, that he might fpoil 
 ]Vincipalitit!s and Powers, bruife the Serpent'sHead, 
 (ieltroy the Works 6f4he Devil ; fo his true-DifcI- 
 ples iiave imbibed a Meafure of the fame Spirit ; 
 i'nd, as Voluntiers enlidcd under his Banner, have 
 the fame Thing in View : they long for thcDeliruc- 
 tion of Satan's K.ngdcm : and thefe Petitions are. 
 the genuine Language of their Hearts, *' Our 
 *' Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy 
 ** Name, thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done oU 
 *<^ Earth as it is in Heaven." Nor can the Salvation 
 of their own Souls, altho' ever fo fafcly^ fecured, 
 fatisfy their Minds, without a clear View and fair 
 Profpedt of Chrift's final Vicflory over all his Ene- 
 mies. " But if our great General, wi»o has 
 *' facrificed his Life in the Caule, may but at Knft 
 *' obtain a complcat V^idory, notwithflanding all 
 *' the prefcnt darkAppearances ; This i:: "•"^^' ' ' " 
 fays tiicCiifiiuaii Soldier ; " I am. will: i 
 
The Millemuunj. 47 ^ 
 
 «« all In his Service, and die in the Battle too. 
 " But if Satan were always to carry the Day, Oil 
 " who could live under the Thought 1" 
 
 This having been the Temper of good Men, * 
 more or leiSjCven from the early Ages of the World, 
 and thro' all fuccelfive Generations to this Day, 
 they have evidently wanted a peculiar Support, 
 which the Refl: ot Mankind flood in no Need of, to^ 
 carry them comfortably thro' fuch a long Scene of' 
 Darknefs; Wichednefs prevailing, God dilhonourcd,. 
 Satan triumphing:, the World perilhing,-. 'the true 
 Church of God more generally in Sackcloth. And 
 according'y the final Victory of the Caufe of Truth 
 and Virtue was intimated in the very firft P^omife 
 made to fallen Man. And from Time to Time God 
 repeated this comfortable Prediction to his Church 
 and People ; and finally made it the chiet Suhjecl 
 of the lait Cook of ho'y Scripture, he ordered to be: 
 wrote for the Ufe of his Church. 
 
 Now !et us take a brief View of the whole Series 
 of thcfe divine Frcdidions, from the Beginning of 
 the World, even down to this in ourText, contain- 
 ed in one of the lad Cl-apters in the Bible ; tli^it wc 
 may fee what fu'l Evidence there is of this Truth ; 
 and fo, what abundant Caufe for Confolation to all 
 the People of God. 
 
 I. Immediately after the Fall, when the Ser- 
 pent, ever> that old Serpent the Devil, had jufk 
 fed. iced Mankind to revolt from God, and had, to , 
 a!! Appearance, lasd this whole World in perpetual j 
 Rijiii, even in the Depths of tliis Midnight-Dar'iC* ' 
 ncfs, a Ray of Light (hone down from Heaven — 
 Toe Seed of the JV:man fnall hriufe the Serpent's Hrivh 
 [Gen. 111. 15,; As if Gjd had faid, "^ 1 fee the 
 '' Scheme that Satan has laid to ruin theWorld,and 
 *' ertablilh his impiou-, maliciius Caufe : 1 fee it, 
 " iiid r ^m. determined to defeat it. The fceble£ 
 
4Sf The MiUemuiim. 
 
 *' Woman he has over- matched, but her almighty 
 "^^ Seed Ihall conquer him, and as effectually fubdue 
 '' him, and prevent all future Mifchief by }um, 
 '* asa Serpent is fubdued and incapacitated for 
 "' furtherMifchief, when his Head is cruflicd to Pit- 
 *' CCS, under the indignant Heel of one determined 
 *' on his Death." This was a compleat Doom in- 
 ('ecd denounced againlt Satan, at the Head of the 
 
 kingdom of Darknels. And it fully implied, that 
 
 heCaufe of Light, Truth and RIghteoufnefs fhould 
 
 . nally obtain a.corripleat Yi^ory. 
 
 ir. After this gracious and glorlou^Promife had 
 '^ een-the chief Found ation'^of all the Hopes of God's 
 
 V^ople for twoThoufand Years, God was pleafcd to 
 point *put the particular Family from whence tliis 
 mighty Deliverer fliould fpring, and to intimate 
 •vhat a univerfal Bluffing he fhould be to all tlie 
 
 . -Nations of the Earth. Jfid in thy SEEDjJjall All the 
 Farfiilus of the Earth behJif.d^ faid God to Abrnham. 
 [Gen. XII, 3.) Which again plainly fnppofcd, that 
 
 he Caufe of Truth and Pvighteoufnefs, nolwiUi- 
 
 'andingthe dark State the VVorld .then was in, all 
 .Inking fafl into Idolatry, and would for many Ag<-s 
 ijC in, buried in heathenifn Darknefs, fliould yet ia 
 <!ue Time univirfally prevail over the wliole Farth. 
 For in thy Seed Jhali all the Families of the Earth he 
 i'i^ffd. This fame Pyomife w as repeated again and 
 
 *nd again to Abraham, and afterwards to Ifaac and 
 io Jacob. 
 
 HI. HiTH^To Gcd had fupportcd his People's 
 Hopes chiefly witliPronnfes, with v^ibalPredicu' ns ; 
 hut from tlie F/ays cf Mofcs to the Davs of Solo- 
 mon Kina^'of Ifia^^l, 10 ^ifiA liisPeon't's Faith,' God 
 die', bff.dcs rtpca^cd Pi'cmif(.s o's the fr;n'.c Tljin^-^. 
 by a grcatVar:ety of wonderful Work;: (1- 
 the g'oricus Day : Ano at the f^oie Time /...- 
 he l^ad fufficknt Wifdom and Power to ^cc'ui 
 
Tlie ' Millcfimum. ^^ 
 
 the greatert: Defigns. That bis People miojht be 
 convinced, that h'^ could eafi.'y bring to pafs, ror the ^ 
 Good ot his Church, whatfocvcr feemed Good ia "3 
 his SiglU. 
 
 Israel in the Egyptian Bondage were a defigncd 
 Tvpe of a fallen World under the Dominion and 
 Tyranny of Satan. Nor was PharoalrKiore loth to 
 let Iiracl go, than Satan is to have his Subjects dc^ 
 ierr him, and his Kingdom go to Ruin. But not- 
 withflanding all the fceming Impoffibilities in the 
 \Vay of Ifracl's Deliverance, infinite Wifdom knevv' 
 how to accomplifh the divine Defigns. God could 
 even caufe a »\lember of Pharoah's Family to edu- 
 cate one to be an Jitftrnmcnt of this defigncd Doii- 
 vcrancc. And in due Time, behold, al) the Armies 
 of Ifrael march forthYrom the Land of E-^ypt, out 
 of the Hou'eof Bonda;T;e ; and Ph.araoh, and his 
 C^hariots, and all liisFloli, lie buried in the Red Sea \ 
 So eafily can God bring forth his People even out 
 of the Anti-Chriftian Kingdom, which is fpiritually 
 called Sodom and Egypt, And, if he plcafes, raife 
 11,) the Inrtiuments of this glorious Work, even in 
 the Court of Rome. 
 
 And when the Name of the true God was rJmoft 
 forgotten thro' ail the Earth, and the Devil wor- 
 (bippcd in his Room, in Idols of various . Nam - 
 thro' all the Nations, God knew how to'^ifinkc his 
 Name known, and to caufe his Fame to fpreacj 
 abroad, and fill the whole Earth with his G!ory, by 
 Wonders wrought in the Land of Hjm,b\ defce^ri- 
 ing »n \lount Sinai, by }e;;d]ng the Arjiiics of Ifinel 
 f rtv Years in the Wiidernefs in a Pillar of Cloud 
 b> DaV, nnd of Fire by Nii,hr, giving rhem Bread 
 from Heaven and Water out of the fiinn' Rock, 
 
 viding Jordan, dehvering up one aivd ih.rty ido- 
 
 ''-•us Kings to the Sword of J'/fli-.n, raifric up 
 
 y.s one after another in a uiiiacuious Manner 
 
 E 4 *to 
 
$0 The Millennium. 
 
 to deliver hisPeople,until thcDays of David andSoIo- 
 n-ion,Types o\ Clirift. Of David, who Melliah-liy 
 fubdued the Enemies of Ifraei all around : of Solo- 
 mon, who built the holy Temple and filled Jerufa- 
 
 km with Riches and Glory. He, who hath done 
 
 all thcfe Things, can ealijy accomplifli all the De- 
 figns ot hisJiiEart^ prtferve his Church, raife up 
 Deliverance, br^ak. to Pieces the Kmgdoms of jhe 
 Earth for her Sake, make Truth vicflorious, and fet 
 Up the new Jeiufalem in all her fpiritual Glory, 
 build up his Church as a glorious holy Temple, 
 and fet the Son of David upon the Throne ; by 
 whofe Hands, Satan and all the Powers of Dark- 
 nefs rtiall be fubdued, chained, -fealed up in the bot- 
 tomlefs Pit, as much afraid, ^nd as much unable 
 to attempt any ^iifchief, as *he ful)clued Nations 
 around Ifraei were in the very Height of David's 
 Power. 
 
 But when fhail tl^e Son of David reign, and the. 
 Church have Rert ? When fhall tlie Caufe of Truth- 
 and Righteoufnefs thus prevail ? Perhaps the very. 
 Tim»e was dengned to be fnadowed forth in theLaw 
 of Mofes, in the Inllitution of their holy Days.. 
 r\\Q fcventh Day^ faid God, who always had this 
 ijorious Seafbn of Reft in View, " The feventh 
 ^' Day (hall be a Sabbath of Reft, the fevcmh 
 '' Month Ihall be full of holy Days, the fevcnfh 
 " Year Oiaii be a Year of Reft :" So, perhaps,, 
 aftcry;,v7/?57V^3;.'J Years are fpent in Labour and Sor- 
 row by the Church of God, the /even ThGufandtb 
 ftiall be a Seafon uf fpiritual Reft and Joy, an holy 
 Sabbath to the Lord. — And as God tlicCreator vsas 
 fix Days in forming a confufed C'haos into? beau- 
 tiful World, and rtHed the /eve nib ; foGod the Pc- 
 deemer, aftery/x77;:'7«/W YtarsLabour in iheWork 
 
 of the new Creation, may rtft on ^ht fiVenth. . 
 
 And then proclaim a general Liberty tg an ejiflaved 
 
 World,',; 
 
The Milknmunu '^\ 
 
 Woric?, and grant a general Pardon to a gulltyRace ; 
 as in the Ytarof Jubilee^ among tho Jews, every 
 enllaved Jew was fet at Liberty, and the Debts of 
 all the indebted weie cancelled. 
 
 IV. Tk£S2 Things, thus inadovved forth in 
 Types, \\ere alfo exj^relly declared by the Mouths 
 of the ancient Proplicts, from the OTy? of David 
 and forward to the End of that Difpcnfation ; and 
 the fame Things are hinted here and there in the 
 NeW'Tellament, and largely opened to View in the 
 Revelation of St. John. So that both tlie Old and 
 New Teftaments join to raife in us, who live in 
 thcfe Ages, the highdl Affjrar.ce, that it is God's 
 Dciign to " give ic^Ims Son the Heathen for his In- 
 " lieritancc, and tffc- uttermoft Parts of the Earth 
 " for his PolTeirionr'(P/.'/. JI. 8.) For all Kings 
 " Ihall bow down before him, and all Nations (liali 
 " ferve him. [PfuL LXXIl. ii.) And the Moun- 
 " tain of the Lord's Houfe ihail be ellablilhed in 
 *' the Top of the Mountains, and fliall be exahed 
 *'. above the Hdls, and all Nations fhall flow unto 
 *' it. {IfaiAi. 1.) They ihall beat their Swords into 
 *' Plow-(hares, and their Spears into pruning Hooks, 
 *' and learn War no more. (vcr. 4.) For the Earth 
 " (hall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as 
 *' tiieWaters cover the Sea. {Jfui. Xf. 9.) A Nation 
 « mall be born in a Day. p>'. LXVI. 8.) All tliy 
 " People ihall be righteous. {Ifai. LX. 2f.) They 
 *' (hail all know the Lord, from the leaft to the 
 " greatcft. (J,r. XXXL 24.) And Holinefs to tl e 
 ** Lord (hall be written on every Thing. {Zsd\ 
 ** XIV. 20, 2 i ) Kings (liall become nurfmy; Fa- 
 " thers, and Qiieens n'urfing Mothers {Ij'cii, XIAX, 
 " 23) and there ihall be nothing to hurt or offend. 
 ** (ifai. XI. 9 ; Th« Inhabitant fhall not [fo mneh 
 ** as] lay, 1 am fick. [Jer. XXXIII. 24.) And tii 8 
 « Kmi^djmlhallnllthe whoieEarth. [Dan,\l.-7,^.) 
 
 '» And 
 
52 The Millennium, 
 
 *' And all Nations and Languages (liall fcrve* him. 
 ^* {Dan. Vll. 14.) And the Kinedom and Do- 
 " minion, and the Greatnefs of the Kingdom under 
 " the whole Heaven rtiall be given to the Peo}>le 
 " of the Saints of the molt high God. [Dan. Vil. 
 *' 27.) and tliejews ihali be called in, and the Ful- 
 *' nefs of thf^^entiles. [Rem. XI. ,12-^32.^ l^orthe 
 *' Gofpel fnall be preached to every 'Nation, and 
 *' Kindred, and Tongue, andPeopKe. (Rev.XW ,h.) 
 " And Satan ihali be bound, and Chrifl fliall reiga 
 *' onEarth a Tlioufand Years." * And as furely as 
 thejews were deJiveved out of the babylonilhCapti- 
 vity,ajKiP)aby]on'itfelf dcftroyed ; even fo furely (hall 
 a 1 thefeThings be acconipliflied in thcirTime. And 
 myftical Babylon fhall ." link ^ a Mill-ftone into 
 
 *' the 
 
 * Satstn JJ^aU he hotin4, ^c. «' The Church of Chrifl 
 *' Or II enjoy Parity of Religion in Peace, without any 
 " Diftarbance from thofe old Enemies of Mankind, 
 *' working in the Children of Difobcdience." 
 
 Dauhuz on the Place. 
 ** And this feems to imply, that all fiiall be converted — • 
 •• However, if there be any that remain unconverted, 
 *' they will, during the Imprifonment of Satan, be in 
 *• fo fmail a Number, and fo feeble in Comparifon of the 
 «* true Chiifhans, that they fliall neither dare, nor be 
 ** able to difturb the Peace of Chrift's Kingdom." 
 
 Lo'wjnan on the Place. 
 
 A Spirit of ftric^ Piety fhall rife fo high, and fo univcrfally 
 prevail, that it fhall be as tlio' all the Martyrs of for- 
 mer Ages were rifen from the Dead, and appeared upon 
 the Stage ^11 at once. This feems to be the Senfe of 
 thofe Words in Rev. XX. 4. The Martyrs arc faid 
 to rife from the Dead, and reign with Chi it a Thoufand 
 Years, much in the fame Seiifc as John the Baf^tiji is 
 called Elius^ viz. bccaulc he was a Man fo nearly re- 
 fembling that celebrated Prophet. Sec Loivmau on the 
 Place. 
 
The M'lUenfilum. jpj 
 
 *« the Sea, and fhall be found no more at all." 
 {Rev.XWm. 2i:) 
 
 V. But when ihali thefe Things be r — I anfwer, 
 in the firriPlace,it is p'ain,as yet they hive not been, 
 thefe great Things have not been accompliihed. 
 They were not accomplilhed when the Jews were 
 brought out of their babylonilh Captivity : for, 
 from thence to the Coming oi' Chrifi, they never 
 Were in fo flouri(hing a State ns tliey had iieen be- 
 fore. They were not accomplilhed in the apoll:olic^ 
 Age : For, St. John, when moH-, if not ail, of the 
 other Apoff res were dead, fpakc of thefe Things 
 (in thc'KivcJqthn) as yet to come to pafs. They were 
 hot accomplilhed in the three tirli Centuries : for, 
 that was ahuoft one continued Scene of Blood. 
 They were not accomplifhed in the Days of Con- 
 ftantine the Great ; for, it is fmce then that the 
 Man ofb'm has been revealed. Nor are they accom- 
 plilhed to this Day : for, Satan is ftill walking to 
 and fro thro' the Earth, and going up and down 
 therein ; Babylon is not fallen ; the Jews are not 
 called ; nor is the Fulnefs of the Gentiles come in ; 
 but the greatell Part of the Earth to this Day fit in 
 heathenith Darknefs. 
 
 When then fliall they be acomph^cd ? — Not 
 
 till '* the holy City has been troden under Foot 
 
 *' forty twoMonths"— Not till " theWitnelTcs have 
 
 *' prophefied a Tiioufand, twoHundred and Three- 
 
 *' fcore Days,cloathed inSack^'loth." {Rey.X\. 2,3.) 
 
 — And nottiU " the Woman has been in theWil- 
 
 " dernefs a Time and Times and half a Time." 
 
 {Re-j.Xll. 14.) Now a Time and Times and half a 
 
 Time, i. e. three Years and a half, is equal to, forty 
 
 ^ \wo Months ; which is equal to one Tlioufand two 
 
 ^ ^Tundred and fixty Days ; which doubtlcfs means 
 
 3^„j 69 Years, a Day for a Year : As tne Event has 
 
 ed was the Cafe in the Prophec)' of Daniel, who 
 
 dcclat<:d 
 
^.T The Milknmu?ii. 
 
 declared It to be 70 Weeks, from the going forth of 
 the Commandment to build JerulalemVto theDeath 
 of Chrift. For it proved to be 490 Years, which 
 is 7 Times 70, a J)ay r'or a Year. [Dan. IX. 24.) 
 
 So that there is no Difficulty in determining the 
 Downtall of Antichrift^ but what arifcs from the 
 Uncertamty we are at when to date the Beginning 
 of his Rife and Reign. The Bifliops of Rome were 
 fome Hundred Ytars rifmg gradually from the ho- 
 neil Cliaracfter of a Scripture-Bifhop to the Grand 
 Title of w-iivrrfal Pape^ which was obtained, J. D, 
 
 6c6. And it was 1 long Tim^ frrm this, before 
 
 they got to the Height of their Grandeur, and 
 the Pope was conftituted a tanpoial Prince, which 
 
 was not till A. D, 756. * And perhaps he may 
 
 fall as gradually as he role. And as now he haj 
 .been falling 24oYears, even ever fince theBcginning 
 of the "Reformation ; fo wc may rationally expec!:"! ho 
 will continue to fall, till Baly.ou finks as a MlMfione 
 into the Sea, And then " the Mountains and the 
 •' Hills fhdll break forth into Tinging, and all the 
 «« IVees of the Field Hiall clap their Hands." {Ifai. 
 LV. 12.) And all the Hol^s of Heaven as loud as 
 Thurtder, Ihall fay, " Hallelujah 1 For the Lord 
 *' God omnipotent reigncth. Let us be glad and 
 " rejoice,and giveHonour tohim ; for the Marriage 
 <' of the Lamb is com.c, and Ijis Wife hath made 
 *' herfelf ready." {Rlv. XIX. 6, 7.) 
 
 And thus we have take-n a brief W\c\v of tlie 
 Scripture-Evidence, that the Caufe of l>iuh an4 
 Righteoufnefs will finally becoine gloriouily vidq- 
 rious. . 'y 
 
 VL Nor is th/src the leafl Reafon to dcuBt,thA 
 Accomplifhment of thefe Things. For,— Go3 A^ 
 all Times paft has been faithful to his Word,— ^ J' 
 
 * See EowsRS HHlory of the TopeSo 
 
The Wllenmum] ^^ 
 
 IS evKlently fufficiently en^raged in tlils Affair — 
 knoA^s how, and can eali'y acconiplini it — and it will 
 be much to the Honour of his great Name to do it. 
 
 God has been faithful to his Prom^fes to his 
 Church from the Beginning of the World. To 
 ail humanAppearance, it was a very unlikelyThing, 
 that the Hebrews, inllaved in Egypt, under Pha- 
 raoii, a very power/ul Monarch, and funk c'.owri 
 into Idolatry, and very low-fpinteJ, ihould anfe, 
 and go forth wiih all their Flocks and Herds, and 
 march ihro' the Wildtrnefs, and conquer the fcveii 
 Nations of Canaan, and pollefs their Land. And 
 fo it was to all human Appearance equally unlikely, 
 that the Jews in Babylon Ihould ever return to their 
 own Land. But God had promifed in both Cafes, 
 «nd God performed. And an Event more furpriz- 
 ing than either of thefe, yea, the molt ailonilhing 
 that cou'd have happened, has alfo come to pau, 
 juil: asGod had laid. The promifed Seed has been 
 born, and the Serpent has biuifgd his Heel ; and me- 
 thinks now not only God's Faithfulnefs, but even 
 the Nature of the Cafe itfelf, Ihould lead us to 
 believe, that the Seed JJjall hraifc his Head. 
 
 For, a.tcr God has appeared to be fo infinitely 
 engaged to dcrtroy the Works of the Devil, as to 
 give his only begotten Son, it can furely never onca 
 be imagihe<l,"1fViat he wan^is fdiHcient Refolu^ion to 
 carry him ihro' wh-at yet remains to be done. 
 
 And Ho, who could {tn^i Pharaoh's Djughter tof 
 take up Mofcs, uhen an Infant, out of his BsTicet of 
 Bulrulhes, and educate him in Pharaoh's (Jourt, 
 that he might be (l:il!cd in all the Arts of Govern- 
 ment ; and wlicn he had fpent forty Years in this 
 Situation, bunilh him into the Land of Midian, that 
 in the folitary Life of a Shepherd for another forty 
 Yoj^rs, he miglit attain to be the meekert Man ou 
 Earth j that he mi2ht,bv both, be thoroughly qua- 
 
^6 The Milk nn turn. 
 
 liiled for theWork defigned him :— And He, who 
 could take David from feeding his Father's Sheep, 
 and, after aCourfe of Trials, fo exceeding neceffary to 
 prepare frail Man for high Honours and great Ufe- 
 tulnefs, exalt him to theThrone oflfracljfo thorough- 
 ly furnifhed to head their Armies and fubdue their 
 Poes, advance their external Grandeur, and put 
 
 greatHonour upon their Religion : And He,Vv'ho 
 
 could take Daniel, one of the Jewifh Captives in 
 Babylon, and raife him to fuch high Honour and 
 great Authority, to be a P'ather to his People thro' 
 their feventy Years Captivity, and by his Means 
 ( perhaps ) influence Cyrus fo generoully to releafe 
 them, and aflift them in theirReturn : * — And fi- 
 nalIy,He, whocould take a Number of poor illiterate 
 Fifhermen, and the perfecuting Saul, and by them 
 lay theFoundation of the Chriftian Church, in Spite 
 ot the united Oppofition of Earth and Hell ; and 
 after their Death caufe the Chriftian Church'to live 
 thro', yea, at laft to triumph over, the ten bloody 
 Perfecutions, and even conquer the Roman Empire ; 
 
 and 
 * As Daniel underftood the Prophecies of Jeremiah, wljich 
 had deterrained the Time of the Captivity to be 70 
 Years {Dun. IX. 2.) and had his fieart fo much in the 
 Affair of their Return, as to fet his Face to Jeek the Lord 
 ty Fafling and Prayer ; [ver. 3 . ) and being the chief 
 Man in the Kingdom muft have free Acccfs, to Cyrus ; 
 (/)<i«. VI.) fo nothing could be more natural than to 
 fhew him an ancient Jewirti Prophecy, wherein he was 
 mentioned by Name, near 200 Years ago, and pointed 
 out as the Perfon who was to let go the Jewifti Capdves, 
 build Jerufalem, and lay the Foundation of the Tcmp'e. 
 Jfai. XLIV. 28. & Chap. XLV. 1—3. To which Cyms 
 no doabl refers in his Proclamation. Ezr. I. 2,3,4. •' Thus 
 •« falthCyrusKingofPcrfia, TheLordGod of Heaven hath 
 <* given mc all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and he hath 
 «* CHARGED me to build him an Houfc at Jerufalen. 
 '* which is la Judah. Who is there among you/' Sec 
 
The }dilknmum\ jT* 
 
 and that which is Oill more wondcrfuf, toTubfiH: to 
 this Day, notwithflanding all tlie fubtle and cruel 
 Methods, which have for fo many Hundred Years 
 been taken by Antichrift to extirpate Chriftianity 
 out of the World :— I fay, He who could do thefe 
 Things, cannot be at at a Lofs for Means, or want 
 Power, to cffed the glorlousThings foretold, which 
 yet remain to be accomplifh'd. 
 
 And, what if Mankind are ever fo ertranged 
 from God ? And what if they are ever fo averfe to 
 a Reconciliation ? And what if Satan reigns in the" 
 Courts of Princes, in the Councils of the Clergy^ 
 as we,il as in the Cottages of the Poor ? And what 
 if even the whole World in a Manner lies in Wick- 
 cdntfs ? So that a general Conflagration might ra- 
 ther be expected, ?.s it is fo eminently deferved j— 
 are thefe lliings any Bar in the Way ? 
 
 What if Mankind have abufcd divine Grace 
 from the Beginning of the World f What if they 
 have murdered his Prophets, his Son, and h\, 
 Apoftles r What if they have refifted and grieved 
 the Holy Spirit, and perverted the Docftrines, nntl 
 gone counter to the Precepts of his holy Word ? 
 Yea, what if it appears that Mankind are really on 
 Satan's Side ? And iiiis after all the kind Methods 
 God has taken to reclaim a guilty World ? fo that 
 even the beQ Man on Earth, or the kindcf!: Angel in 
 Heaven might be difcouraged, totally and finally 
 difcouraged, and think it never worth wiiile to taki 
 any more Pains with fuch a perverfc Race, but that 
 it were more fuitable to the Rules of good Govern- 
 ment to refign them to Deflruc^ion ? Are any, cr 
 all thefe Things together, a fuilicient Bar to the 
 Accomplifhment of God's Dehgns, whofc Good- 
 nefs is abfoluicly infinite ? 
 
 What ! After the Son of God has been ofTcrcJ 
 
 ^% a Sacniice of Atoncroenr,io fecurt the Hor.-jur of 
 
 V 2 the 
 
jS The Mii!::nnium, 
 
 the divine Government, and open a Way for thtf 
 honourable Fxercife of his Grace ! Whar, after the 
 Mcffiah has been exalted to be a Prince and aSaviour, 
 to give Repentance and Rcmilfion ot Sins ! And 
 after aJl Power and Authority in Heaven and Earth 
 3s given into his Hands, on Purpofe to deftroy the 
 Kingdom of Satan, and bring every Nation, Kin- 
 dred and Toniiuc, to bow tie Knee to God ! yea, 
 when the intinitciy wife Gcvernour of the World 
 Jias before determined to permit the Wickednefs of 
 Jvlankiiid to come out and ftand in fo glaring a 
 Light, and to fuffer Satan fo long to Pradlife and 
 profper ; to this very Purpofe, tliat his Power, Wif- 
 <lom and Grace miglu be the more cffcdually and 
 the more glorioufly difplayed, in the Accomplifh- 
 ment of all his glorious Defigns ! 
 
 Instead of being difcouraged, from a View of 
 the pal\ or the prefcnt State of the World, as with- 
 out the Light of divine Revelation we Ihould na- 
 turally have been ; methinks now,vievving allThings 
 in the Light of holy Scripture, it mud be ^(^Tk€i\y 
 rational to conclude, that all thefeThiiigs are only, 
 ])reparatory, as an Introdu6ti(^n to the glorious Day ; 
 even, as all the cruel Bondage of Ifrael in Egypt, 
 and all the haughty Condudt of Pharaoh, were but 
 preparatory,as an Introdudion to the gloriousEvent 
 
 that God had then in his Eye. And what un- 
 
 fpcakable Honour will redound to God moii High, 
 if after all the vile Condudf of this apofiate World, 
 tind notwithftanding all their Ill-defert, and after ail 
 the fubtle Methods Satan has taken to make his 
 Kingdom ftrong ; 1 fay, wh,at unfpeakabic Honour 
 \vill redound to God mofl High, if after all tins f>e 
 
 jhould accomplhh las glorious Defigns ? And 
 
 when Things have been ripening tlufe tive 
 or fix Thoufand Years, and are now fo nearly every 
 Way prepared igr God to ^ct lumfelf a ^re^t Naio^tf 
 
The MUUnnLni. 'S'> 
 
 in the totnl Deftruaion of Sutan's KingdoiT!, can 
 v/e once imagine that God will let the Opportuniry 
 llip ? Or rather, ouglit we not tirmly to believe,' 
 tliac when every Thing is quite ripe, then God 
 \vi!l arife, make bare his Arm, and till the whA^ 
 World with his Glory ? 
 
 Especially, conlidermor, that as Things (land^ 
 tlic Honour of all his glorious Ferfedtions lies ac 
 Stjke. — P'or,ever fmce the Almighty gave out the 
 AVord, that the ^eed cf the JFcr/ian Jhculd hrwfe the^er^ 
 pcnt's Head^ even from that very Day, that old Ser- 
 pent, with aH his Subtilty, has employed his who's 
 Power to defeat the diviiie Defigns^ maintain his 
 Kingdom in the World, and efcape the dreadful 
 Blow.— He llirred up Cain to kill his Brother, and 
 never left till the whole Earth was tilled with Vio- 
 lence, v^hich b eight on the general Deluge, hn I 
 aficr thcP'lood he; was induilriou.>> todivertMankiiiJ. 
 from the Knowled^-e and Woriliip of the true Goci^ 
 and to eOahlifl-i Idolatry and the VVorihip of Devil's 
 in all theKingdomsof the Earth. A^^^ iinceChnf- 
 tianity appeared, he has turned himfelf into every 
 Shape to defeat the g:a:ious Ddlgris of the Gofpel, 
 and has prevailed and reign.d above a Thouf.uid 
 Years, at thcHc'nd of the grand Anrichridian Apaila^ 
 cy. And Ihou'd the AhnLihiy fuffer him to fb on, 
 andprofper, and finally prevaij, what would b.^come 
 of his. own gr.^at Nime'? And how great would ht; 
 tli.'ir 7>?umph in the infc-rtVal Regions, to thmic^ 
 t'lat in" Sj^l^hrof God and or his Son, f.o n the B : - 
 ginning rS'ih'e EVii -O'fthe 'Woi'W,,.riiev have X.tX'x 
 yHit in J cor}tWt \^:&x^ kept tha ^\€d.yZ\\\ at la:'t 
 
 tyiwt off vidoriOus ? • Wherciore,. as whei 
 
 God repeats W^^ ift'bnderful Works, which he had 
 
 t'one tor Ifracl in thi; Days of old, in the XXth^. 
 
 Chapter o^ Ezrli'iel^ he conl^antiy fays, / wruught. 
 
 J'^r iiun^ au^i grsat Name^ fo hcrej in ibis Cafv wni 
 
 lift 
 
<5S The MilleFmum^ 
 
 lie do It again, and that in the mod eminent Man- 
 ner. As it is written, The Zeal ofthg Lordof Hofts 
 mil perform this. Ifai. IX. 7. 
 
 So that, in a Word, if almighty Power and In- 
 finite Wifdom, at the Head of the Univerfe, infi- 
 nitely engaged, are a fufEcient Match for the Guihy, 
 impotent Powers of Darknefs, then we may depend 
 *i3pon it, Satan will meet with an Overthrow, as not- 
 able as did Pharaoh and his Hoft in the Red-Scu. 
 And as proud Babylon, once the Miftrefs of King- 
 doms, is now no more ; fo myftical Er»bylon Hiall 
 iink as a Alillutone in the Sea, and rife no more for 
 ever. And 
 
 yil. Whatever Midakes the JewiPa Rabbles 
 might fall into, in their Interpretation of Daniel's 70 
 Weeks, and in their Attempts to fix the precifei 
 rime of the Mefliah's coming ; and whatever mil- 
 tnken Notions any of them had about the Nature qT 
 his Kingdom, as tho* it was to be of this World, 
 and He to appear in all earthly Grandeur; and 
 altho' his Coming, to fome might fcem to be {o 
 long delayed, that they began to give up all Hopes 
 of it, and to contrive fome other Meaning to all the 
 ancient Prophtcies, or even to call in Q^ielVion the 
 Infpiration of the Prophets : yet neither the Miftakes 
 of fome, nor the Infidelity of others, at all altered 
 he Cafe. Days and Months and Years hafiened 
 nlong, and one Revolution among the Kingdoms 
 of the Earth followed upon another, till the Fulnefs 
 cfTirr.e was come, till all 71iings were ripe ; and 
 then, Beho.'dj the Messiah v/as born. Even fo it 
 fhall be now. 
 
 Whatever Miftakes Chrifllan Divines may falj 
 into, in theirliiterpretation of 665,theNumber of the 
 Beaft, or in their Endeavours to fix the precife Time 
 when the i26>o Years of AntichriA's Reign HWl 
 bcs^in and end j cr wh^itSYCf wrgng N,p lions ft ir.e 
 
The Millennium, g*£ 
 
 have had, or may have about the Nature of the 
 Millennium,as tho'Chrift was to reign pvirfonalfy on 
 Earth ; and if fome, mean while, begin to think, 
 that all Things will go on as they have clone, and 
 to conclude, that the the Expectation of thefc glori- 
 ous Days, which has prevailed in tiic Chnlliaii 
 Church from the Beginning, is merely a gro-jndlefs 
 Fancy : Yet none of thefe Thin^s\vill at all alter 
 the Cafe. Days and xMonths ana /ears will haften 
 (alon2;, and one Revolution among the Kingdoms of 
 the Earth follow upon another, until the Fulnefs of 
 
 J Time is come, till all things are ripe for theEvent ; 
 'and then the Minifters of Chrill: v.-ill accomplilh in 
 iReallty, what Sr. John faw in his Vifions : — I fiw 
 an Angel jiy in thcMitljl cf Heacen^oaving the everL/iirt^ 
 
 ' iGofpel to preach unto them that divtll on the Earthy awl 
 
 So every Nation and Kindred^ and Tongue and Peoph. 
 Rev. XIV"'. 6.) And then (hall it come to pafsjthat 
 ^he Failoi Ignorance, which hath fo long fpread over 
 all Nations, JJjall be dc/royed (Ifai. XXV. 7. ) ar^l 
 Knowledge iliall fo greatly increafe, that it lh:ill be 
 as tho' the Light of the Moon were as the Li^ht ofths 
 Sun^ and the Light cf the Sun [even fold ( Jfai. XXX. 
 26.) until the Knowledge of the Lord cover thi Earthy 
 as the fritters do the Sea, ( Ifai. X[. 9. ) Am\ then 
 \ht\tff?a!t be nothing to hurt or o^end in all G.d's holy 
 Mountain. *For Bihylon (hall fall, Satan be bpund, 
 and Chrii\ will reign, and Truth and Rightcoulhefs 
 univerl'ally prevail, a Thoufand Years. 
 
 REMARKS and INFERENCES. 
 
 I. When, therefore, our Saviour in the Days of 
 )i'is Flefa, denominated his Fo! lowers a little Ehck^ 
 from the Smallnefs of their Number, lie had noDe- 
 fign to teach us, thjt this would always be the Cik*. 
 For ahho' it was very true, that lusFLck was at that 
 F 4 ' ■' Timg 
 
^2 The Millennhi^\ 
 
 Time^ Uitk Fleck ; yet the Day was comln*, when 
 tliat Utile Leaien (liould IcaveJi the whoU Lump [Mat, 
 Xni. 33. ) and the Stone cut cut ivithcut Hafids\ho\x\\ 
 become a great Mountain^ and pi I the v^hcle Earth. 
 (Da?i. II. 25.) So, altho' it was a Saying very ap- 
 pl.cable not only to our Saviour's Day, but to mo.l: 
 other Periods ot the Church, *r|iat7??r/'ry are called tmd 
 feiv are chofen \ yet it dues not hcn^e fol!ov\',"that this 
 will be the Cafe wl-.en a Nation. JJjall bejdifn in a Day^ 
 and all thePeqle Jlmll he righteous. Anil ah ho' it has 
 commonly been (bjthat of theM?/'rj/ who have fouglit; 
 to enter in at the jlrait Gate^ but Few have been ahle^ 
 and the Generality have from Age to Age gone 
 in the hraadlVay^ which leads dciin'io Deftiu^ion : vet 
 it Iball'be quite otlierwife,when Satan is hound^ that he[ 
 may deceive the Nations no mere \ and when allJJxm 
 blow the Lord from the lea ft to the greateji^vihtn t'i^^ 
 Kingdom andil.eGreain'fs of theJCirigdom- under the ivhcle 
 Heavens^ jhall he given to the Pe-opU of the Saints of the, I 
 Moft Fligh. — For it is very plain, that thefe and fuch 
 like Expreiilons ufed by our Saviour, which were 
 applicable to the then- times, and to moft other 
 Periods, when the Number of true Convcr s hath 
 bet-n comparatively very fm^}!, were never defigned 
 to be applicable to th^it glorious Period yet to come, 
 vhich !S to be the g.rund KarvetVTime, when the 
 Jo'zus f who are to this Day for that very Purpofc, 
 ro doubt, by divine Providence v^Jefcrvett a diilincfl 
 People ) and the Fulnefs of the Gentiles /hall come in-. 
 Nor c«n ii be right to iLiterpret iuth Pxpifcii'ons iii 
 fuch a Senfe, as ro render ihcni incordVlUnt \\\\\\ 
 wliat the Scriptures lo pbi'dy ler.ch ihali be the- 
 
 Cafe in the latter Days. l^hercforo, 
 
 2. NoTWiTHSTAiVDlKO liithtrto but fcv^ h;;' e 
 been faved, tlicre is no Evidence but that 
 greater Part of Mankind may be faved. N 
 
The Milknmunt', 6^ 
 
 have been jull mentioned, for the Rcafon already 
 fuiZgeft.d. Nor can anvThing be argued from any 
 otiier PalBges of Scripture •, for the Scripture no 
 where teaches, that fhe greatell Part of the whole 
 h iiranRace will finally peridT.. 1 am fenHble, many 
 lecm to ta!^'^ t!>^« f?r granted, and they are greatly 
 flrcngthen. sBeiicf, from a View of the awful 
 
 State^i^^.nic.: t, n:ivc been iti from the Begirming of 
 the World to this Dav. But if we fhouMevea 
 gviini, that [,ith.p:;o nui One in ten Hioutand have 
 been lavtc!, \c! It uisy come to pafs ( tiicre may be 
 Time enough for it, and Men enough yet born) 
 I fay, it may vet come to }>ars, that by far the grea** 
 telt Part ot Miinkmd may be laved. 
 
 For, as theScriptures condantly teach, that in thcfe 
 glorious Days, univerfal Peace (bail prevail ; and 
 iiifiead of War,!he Nations ihall em^^loy their Time 
 in ufeful Labour,//?)^// beat their Swords into P/oiv^ 
 fna; es^and thiir Spears into Pruning- hooks ; fo it will na- 
 turally come to pafs, that Mankind, who are now in 
 vail Multitudes deflroyed iii the Wars from, one 
 Generation to another, will be greatly incr'rafed in 
 Numbers, and plentifully pi^'ided for. Only re- 
 movcWars, P'am.ines, and all thofe defolating Judg* 
 ments, whicli the Sins of Mankind have from Age 
 to Age brought down on a guiity World, anJ let 
 that univer^ Peace andProfpei iry take Place, which 
 indeed will naturajlv refult nom the fmcere Pradl.ce 
 .of pure Chriilianity, and Mankind will naturally 
 increafe, and fpread, and fill ai! the Earth. And 
 while every one improves hisT^ime well, and is di- 
 Jigcnt in his Calling, accovdaigto the Rules of our 
 lioiy Religion, and a'l Luxury, Intemperance and 
 Exrravagsnce are banilhi from the Nations of th« 
 Earth, it is certain tir-it this Globe will be able to 
 fuibjii with Food and Raiment, a Numb.r of Jiiha* 
 biiants iinuACiifeiy greater than ever yei dvvek on it 
 
^4 The Millcnntum] 
 
 at aTime.And now if tf//thefe fhall know the Lord from 
 the li:aJJto the greatej}^ as the Scripture afTerts, fo that 
 the Knowledge of the Lord frail fill the Earth as the JVa- 
 iivs ccver the Sea, for a Thouland Years together, it 
 may eafily, yea, it will naturally come to pafi, that 
 there will be more faved in thefe Thoufand Years, 
 then ever before dwelt upon i'^'; Face of the Earth 
 from the Foundation of the W'prld. 
 
 Some indeed underftand ^' T! ufand Years in 
 ih^ Revelation ^grezbh to c . r proplictical Num- 
 bers in that Dook, a Pay for a Year. So the Timf, 
 ofid Times f and half a Time, i. e. three Years and an 
 half, and the forty two Months, and the 1260 Days^ 
 are no doubt to be reckoned. And if the dark 
 Period is to be reckoned by this Rule, it (hould fcem 
 that the lit' ht Period {hould likewife. p'or other- 
 "wife the dark Period, vhich in that Book is reprcK 
 fented to be the fliorteft, will indeed be the longefV, 
 The 1260 Days longer then the icco Years, -rand* 
 if the 1000 Years is reckoned a Day for a Year, as 
 the Scripture -Year contains 360 Days, fo the 1000 
 Years will amount to 360,000 Years. In which, 
 there might beMillions faved, to One that has been 
 
 Joft. But not to infifl upon this, If this e:lorlous 
 
 Period is to laft only a Thoufand Years literally, 
 there may be many more faved than loft. 
 
 If it be granted, that it is difficult to compute 
 with any Exa6\nefs in fuch a Cafe as this, yet it is 
 cafy to make fuch a Computation as may farisfy us 
 in the Point before us. For in Egypt the Hebrews 
 doubled at the Rate of about once in 14 Years ; 
 in A^i?zc;-£w^/^A/^/ the Inhabitants double in lefs than 
 25 Years ; it will be moderate therefore to fuppofe, 
 NJankind in the Millennium, when all the Eirth is 
 full of Peace and Profperity, will double every 50 
 Years. But at this Rate, there will be Tjiiie e- 
 noush in aThoufand Years to double twcn^vTime> 
 
The MUIennlum] 
 
 ^s 
 
 Which would produce fuch a Multitude of People, 
 as that altho' we Ihould fuppofj all who live bctore 
 the Millennium begins, to be loft ; yet if all thcfe 
 (hould be faved, there would be above feventecn 
 Thoufand faved,to One that would be loft. As may 
 appear from the Tabic below. 
 
 3- Ths 
 
 1 
 
 ."" 
 
 - 
 
 : ^'-i! 
 
 Im the firft Column, wc 
 
 2 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 have the 20 Periods, which 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 • w 
 
 1000 Years will nukc,at 50 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 i6 
 
 Years to a Period. — In the 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 fecond Ccluinn, we fee in 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 64 
 
 whatProportionMankind will 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 128 
 
 incrcafe, if they arc foppofed 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 . 256 
 
 to double in every 50 Years. -- 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 - 512 
 
 At the End of the firft Fir'ty 
 
 lO 
 
 
 
 1024 
 
 Years, there will be two for 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 2048 
 
 one. — Andfoon— AttheEnd 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 4096 
 
 of the 2orh Period,thcrewiIi 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 8192 
 
 be above a' lillion for one. — 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 16384 
 
 Now fuppofc the World to 
 
 i; 
 
 
 
 3276S 
 
 ftand 6000 Years before the 
 
 i6 
 
 
 
 6ss^6 
 
 Millennium— and fuppofe ic 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 131072 
 
 in every Age to be as full of 
 
 iS 
 
 
 
 262144 
 
 Inhabitants as it will be when 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 524288 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 1048576 
 
 And fupp .fe, through all the 
 6000 Vcrirs, all the inhabi- 
 
 Snm 
 
 total. 
 
 2,097,150 
 
 tants of the Earth to have 
 
 died off and new ones come *" their Room, at the Rare of 
 once ki 50 Years— 6000 Years, at 50 Years to a Period, 
 
 will be 120 Periods 120 Worlds full — all loO, fuppofe 
 
 — yet by theTablc we fee, that the 7thPeriod alone (which 
 is 128) would more than coantcr ballincc uhe Whole 
 
 Suppofe all before the Millennium lofl =: 120 
 SiippoTe all in the Millennium fi"°d rr 2097150 
 Then 12a : 2097150 : : i : 17456 -,^ Q^E. O, 
 
 Thit 
 
€6 The Mllknmum. 
 
 3. The Periods pad, that have been fo darlc, 
 ought to be conlidercd as iiuioduetory to tiiis 
 b-ri^ht and glorious Scene, and in various Refpecls 
 as preparatory thereto. 
 
 An apoftate Race, \vlio had joined with the fallen 
 Angels in a Courie of Rebellion againft the Gover- 
 nor of the Univerfe, might juilly Imve been for- 
 faken of God, and given up to a State of pcrfccft 
 Darknefs and Vv'oe, iioni GeneraticntoGcneration, 
 entirely under the Power of tli . of Dartcnefs. 
 
 What has happened, in darlt/.,^^.. ^ , inay help us 
 
 a-littjc to realize vs'hat might jullly always have*been 
 the woul State of a fallen W'or.d. We have had 
 a Spetiiiicn cfthe dreadful Nature and Tendency of 
 Satan's Government, in all the Idolatry, Wickcdnefs 
 and Woe, which have hlled tlie World. Arid we 
 have fcen a-liitle w hat is in tlicHeart oi' fallen Man, 
 who have llain the J^ord's i*ropr»ets, crucified hisSon, 
 and fned the Blood of Thoufands, yea of Mihions 
 of his Servants. And what has happened may help 
 us to realize a-little what muii: have been the State 
 
 of 
 
 That is, above 17000 would be favcd, to One lofl ; which 
 TVas the Point to be proved. — Therefore r.oihing hindt-rs, 
 but that the greatefl Part of iMankind may yet be faved, if 
 Cod fo pleafes. Therels Time entiigh for it, and may be 
 Men enough yet born. And if thife Calculations may * 
 fervc to clear up this, they anfwcr the End propofcd. What 
 Proportion of iVIankind will finally be faved, and v;hat loft, 
 none can teU. It is no where revealed. God was not obliged 
 to favc One oiu of all this guilty loil World. Hitherto the 
 Generality may have periflicd : and the Lord isRighteous. — 
 Put who can tell, to what a Degree God n>ay yet glorify his 
 Grace .^ The holy Scriptures encourage us to look ForThings- 
 exceeding great and gloriojs ; even, tor fjch Events asruay. , 
 put a new face on all God's pafl: Difpenlations. (Sec t>,c 
 following Sermons oa tke IVifdoni of Ccd in th Pcrjuij/ion 
 
 ^/SiH.) ^ 
 
The Milknmum: % 
 
 of a fallen World, if Grace had never mterpofed. 
 At the fame Time it hath appeared, after the belt 
 contrived Experiments have been fufRciently tried, 
 that it is not in the Heart of fallen Man to repent, 
 nor can he be brought to it by any external Means 
 "whatfoevcr ; whereby the abfolute Necefiity of the 
 Interpofition of Aipernatural Grace hath been fet ia 
 tiie mod glaring Light.— And now, if after all God 
 (liould effeclualiy interpofe, deftroy the Influence of 
 Satan, fcatter the Darknefs which fills the World, 
 recover Mankind to God, and caufe Truth and 
 Rightcoufnefs atlaflto prevail ; it would appear to 
 be altogether of Ged, of his own mere felt-moving 
 Ooodnefs and fovcreigri Grace. And after fo long 
 and fore a Bondage, Mankind will be the more fen- 
 fible of the Greatnefs of the Deliverance.— — N"oe 
 ■can it ever be faid by a proud and haughty World, 
 *' We did not Need the Influences of divine Grace 
 •' to bring us right j" Whenas ail other Methods 
 had been fufficiently tried, and tried in vain. But 
 God mayjuftly fay, *' What could have been dons 
 "*' more to reclaim Mankinds that I have not done t 
 " And to what Fi'.rpcfe would it have b«erK,to have 
 ^' taken one Step further ? I tried them enough* 
 ** There was no Hope, Their Heart was a Heart 
 
 *' of Stone. Therefore, behold, I, even I will 
 
 *' take away the Heart of Stone, and give an Hearc 
 *• of Flefh ; and an npoflate World (hall be alham-^. 
 •' cd and confounded, and (hail never open their 
 <* Mouth,when I ft:iall do all thefeThingsfor tlicm." 
 We are apt to wonder wliy thefe glorious Days 
 (liouldbefo long delayed, if God indeed intends fucU 
 A4ercy to Men. — But God infinitely wife, knows 
 "What is heft J — knows how to conduct the Affairs 
 of the Univerfe ; knows when is the fttteil Time to 
 introtluce this glorious State of Things ; knows 
 when Matters Vv'ili be all ripencd» and every Thing 
 
^^ The Millennium, 
 
 in the moral World prepared ; fo that this glorious 
 bay may be udicred in to the befl-^Advantagc, in 
 3l Manner moft fuited to honour God and his Son^ 
 to humble a haughty World, and to difappoint Sa- 
 tan mofc grievoufly, after all his wilySchemes, grea,t 
 Succers,and high Expectations : — I fay, God knows 
 when this will be : And this is the veryTniie he has 
 fixed upon for this glorious W©ik. 
 
 4. It therefore becomes all the Followers of 
 Chri{l,in their feveralSpheres,in under firmBeliif of 
 thefe Things, to be of good Courage, and exert 
 themfelves to the utmoft, in the Ufe of all proper 
 Means, to fupprefs Error and Vice of every Kind, 
 and promote the Caufe of Truth and Righteoufnefs 
 intheWorldj and fo be Workers together with 
 God. 
 
 If one flood at the Head of this glorious Army, 
 which has been in the Wars above thefeiive Thou- 
 fand Years, and has lived thro' many a dreadful 
 Campaign, and were allowed to make a Speech to 
 thefe veteran Troops, upon this glorious Thcme,lie 
 might lift up hisVoice, and fay, " Hail, noble He- 
 *' rocs ! brave Followers of the Lamb ! Your Gc- 
 *' neral has facrificed hlsXifc in this glcriousCaufe, 
 *' and fpoiled Principalities and Powers on the 
 *' Crcfs 1 and now he lives and reigns. He reigns 
 " on high, with all Power in Heaven and Earth ia 
 •' his Hands. Your PredecelTors, the Propliets, 
 *' Apcflles and Martyrs,, with undaunted Courage 
 '' have marched into the Field of Battle, and con- 
 *^* quered dying 1 and now reign in Heaven ! Be- 
 *' hold, ye arc rifcn up in their Room, arc engaged 
 " in the fame Caufe, and the Time of the la(\ ge- 
 " neral Battle draws on, when ^ glorious Vicflory is 
 ^' to be won. And altho' many a vahant Sojdicr 
 *' may be flain in the Field ; yet the Army lliall 
 ^} drive ill before them ac lail. And Satan being 
 
 5^ conquered. 
 
The Millennium. ^^ 
 
 " conquered^ and all the Powers of Darknefe driven 
 " out of the Field, and confined to the bottomlefs 
 *' Pit, ye Ihall reign with Chrift a thcufand Years. 
 *' reign in Love and Peace, while Truth and Righ- 
 
 " teoufncfs ride triumphant thro' the Earth. 
 
 '' Wherefore lay afide every Weight, and, with 
 your Hearts wholly intent on this grand Affair, 
 gird up your Loyns, and with all the fpiritual" 
 Weapons of Faith, Prayer, Meditation, Watch- 
 '' fulncfs, liC. with redoubled Zeal and Courage 
 fall on your fpiritual Enemies. Slay every Luft 
 that yet lurks within, as knowing yourdomeftic 
 *' Foes arc the moft dangerous. And with Gentle- 
 *' nefs, Meeknefs and Wifdom, by your holy Con- 
 '* dud, your pious Examples, your kind Inflrudi- 
 '* ons, your friendly Admonitions, fpread theSavour 
 ** of divine Knowitdge all around you, as ye are 
 *' fcattered here and there thro' a benighted Woi Id; 
 '* labouring to win Sou!s to Chrlft, to induce the 
 " deluded Followers of Satan to dcfert his Camp, 
 ** and inlifl as Volunteers under your Prince Mes- 
 
 *< siAH. And if the Powers of Darknefs fhould 
 
 " rally all their Forces, and a general Battle thro* 
 '' all the Crhirtian World come on ; O, love not 
 *' }0ur Lives to the Death ! Sacrifice every earthly 
 " Comfort in the glorious Caufe ! Sing the 'Fri- 
 *' umphs of your victorious General, in Pr,fons and 
 *' at the Stake I And die couragiouily, firmly be- 
 *' lieving the Caufe of Truth and RiglUeoufnefs 
 *' will finally prevail.'* 
 
 Surely it is infinitely unbecoming the Followers 
 of him who is Kin^ of Kings and Lord of Lordsy to- 
 turn afide to earthly Purfuits,or to fink down in un- 
 manly Difcouragcmcnts, or to give Way to Sloth 
 and EtFeminacy, when there is fo much to be done, 
 ind the glorious Day is coming on. How (hould 
 ihofe who handle the Pen of the Writer, exert 
 Cj 2 them- 
 
r 
 
 7» The MdhnnluT^. 
 
 themfelves to explain and Tindicat€ divine Truths, 
 
 and paint the Chriftian Religion in all its native 
 Glories ? liow (hould the Pulpit be animated, from 
 Sabbath to Sabbaih, with Sermons full of Know- 
 ledge and Light, full cf Spirit anc* Life, full of Zeal 
 for God, and Love to Men, and tender Pity to infa- 
 tuated Sinners r Cbrift loves to have his Minilkrs 
 
 faithful, \\hether the Wicked will hear or not. 
 
 And let pious Parents be unwearied in their Prayers 
 for, and Inftructions of their Ciiildren, and never 
 iaint under any Difcouragements ; as knouin^>*hat 
 Chrifl: is exalted to give Repentance and Remiffion 
 of Sins, aad can do it for whom he will. Bring your 
 ChiWren aad Friends, with all their fpiritual Dif- 
 cafes, and lay them at his Feet ; as once they did 
 • heir Sick, when this kind Saviour dwelt onEarth. — 
 
 et pious Perfons of every Age, and in every Capa- 
 tity, awake from Sleep,and arife from the Dead, and 
 iive and 2(51 worthy their glcriousCharacler and high. 
 Lxpecftations i and in their fevetal Stations exert 
 themfelves to the utmofi to promote theRcdeemer's 
 ^^iorious Caufe. — Let this Age do their Share, as 
 David, altko* the Temple was net to be -built 
 
 1 his Day, yet exerted himfelf to lay up Materials 
 Jor that magnificent Edifice, on which hisUeart was 
 intently fet ^ as knowing, that La- his Son's Day it 
 would be fet up in all its Glory. So kl us rife up> 
 and vvith the greateft Alacrity conmbute our uxmoft 
 towards this Building,this liviagl'emplc, thisTena- 
 ple all made of lively Stones,of Stones alive,in which 
 God is to dwell, and which will infinitely exceed in 
 Glory the Temple of Solomoa, that was built of 
 dead Timber and lifclefs Stones.— And let this be 
 our daily Prayer, an Anfwcr to which we may be 
 aflured of, whatever other Requefts are denied uf. 
 Our Father which art in Htaven^ hz.—for thins is thr. 
 Kingdom^ ih Foiver^ and the Glory^ for c^^-*-- A MT. n . 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 ^^ '^ *• «• ** 
 
 
 The Wisdom of God 
 
 in the Permiffion of Sin. 
 SERMON I. 
 
 Genesis L. 20. 
 : 7^E thoughi Evil again]} Ml' j hut C. ' 
 
 7nea?2t it luito Gcod- 
 
 JACOB being dead and buried, and Jofeph dill- 
 Governor over all the L:nd of Egypt, iiis guilty 
 Brethren began to be afraid, that Jofeph, iii 
 v/hofe Power they now were, and at'vvhofe Mercy 
 tney now lay, would requite them Evil, for the ia- 
 huinan, barbarous Deed they had formerly commit- 
 ted- in felling him for a Sl^ve, notwiihftanding alt 
 ]ii.s Cries and Teafs, and the Anguiili of his Sou!> 
 Wherefore having fi^:^ feni Meffengers to him, r > 
 pacify him, and beg his P*irdon ^ they venture atlall 
 into his Prefenc?, and fall down before his Face, 
 unci re ' ti to his Mercy, faying, *^^ Dchold, we ba 
 *' r'.- rvants." /. >. We have nothing to fay for 
 o ; "we are verily guihy : vre are in liiyPow- 
 
 ei , \« .jrrender ourfelves to thv Difpofil, Upou 
 wliivh; Jo.e.ph laid uiito them, " Fear not" any Harm 
 G 3 i;o:i 
 
7« , Tht Wisdom of Qoi 
 
 from me. <« For am I in the Place of God,** the 
 righteous Judge of the World, to whom Vengeance 
 belongs, and with whom you had Need make your 
 Peace ! 'Tis true indeed, ye a<^ed a barbarous and 
 cruel Parf^ « Ye tho't Evil againft me : but God," 
 '^rvho had the ordering of the whole Affair,. <« meant 
 *' it for Goody Xo bring topafs as it is this Day, ta 
 *« fave much People alive." And white I behold 
 the Wifdom and Goodnefs of God,, fo confpicuous 
 in thisDirpcnfation, I have noDifpofftion to rcveng«- 
 the Injury you did me. Therefore h^r not :: for in- 
 ftead of requiring you the Evil,, you are fenfible you 
 deferve, for your ill Treatment of m^y. L-vvjli rather, 
 m Imitation of God, whe^ hath been, lb kind to-nie; 
 m all my Diflreffes^,. treat yoa with all Goodnefs. 
 " I will nourifh you and your little Ones, Thusiia 
 comforted them, and fpake kindly to them." 
 
 At the fame Time Jpfeph viewed the Conducft of 
 his Brethren, and conlwlered their Temper and De- 
 iigns, and the Keinousncfs of ihcin Crime ; he alfo 
 Tbcheld the Hand o£ God,, which he as^ plainly faw 
 in the whole Affair, pcRmiuing and over-ruling his 
 Ertthrcn's Sin, to anfw-er good and noble Ends : 
 A«d tliis iiidirpofed him to any. angry Refentments, 
 and framed h>s Soul only to Gratitude to God, and 
 Love and Kindnefi to his Brethren. Bis feeing the 
 Ifondof God in it, or ta.ufe his own Language,,hi$ 
 feeing that ** God meant" he Hiould be fold, and 
 that it was '«- God who fentjhim thither," together 
 with xht happy Experience he had had of the Wif- 
 ftpm asid Goodnefs of God in the Affair, not only 
 prepared him to forgive his Brethren ; But to treat 
 them with all poffible Tendernefs, and fraternal 
 Goodnefs. So thtt he was not only fully fatisficd 
 in the Wifdora of Gcd in the PermifTion of that 
 Sin i but was thereby the better prepared to do his 
 Duty, 
 
 POCTRINB, 
 
tu iht Permijjion of Sm, jr^ 
 
 Doctrine. " A Sight of the Wifdom of God 
 HI the Permiflion of Sin, is very ufeful to prQmota 
 Hohnefs of Heart and Life : It has. a gr«at Ten^ 
 dcncy to make us feel right, and behave welli" 
 
 Thus it was with Jofeph, as we have {t^x\^ And 
 thus it was with 7^^, who, while the Sabeans wick- 
 edly robbed him> eyed the Hand of God, and faid, 
 " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, 
 and bleflcd. be tl^.e N^me of the Lord."* And thus- 
 it was with. £)jz;/V, v/hils Shimei wickedly abuied 
 him, going along on the Hill over againft him, as- 
 he was fleeing out of Jerufalem from the Hands of 
 Abfalomihis Son^ and curled him. as he went, fay- 
 ing, *' Come out, come out, thou bloody Man." — 
 " Let him Curfe" fays- David, " for the Lord hath.. 
 " bidden him."t * Ijuftjy deferve it at the Hands 
 of the IViUjeftyof Hfeaven,aga!ntl whom I have grie- 
 
 voully finned. A bloody Man indeed Lam ! — 
 
 O Uriah ! Uriah I 1 fljall nevec forget the Blood. 
 
 of the valiant Uriah ! * 
 
 But it is needlefs to multiply ThAanccs*. For 
 nothing is plainer, than that it muft tend to .bring us> 
 to a right Temper of. Mind, in every Circumftance 
 of Life, to view infinite Wifdom, as- ordering all 
 Things, which concern. us, in- the wifeH: and befc 
 Manner. Nor could any Tho't be more fliocking 
 to a pious. Mind, than to conceive the S)eity as 
 unconcerned. in humanAffairs, — tl^ Devil ruling ia 
 the Children of Difobedisnce without Controul, and 
 all Things juinbling along.-in.thiS' Wicked World, 
 without the Icaft ProfpecfV o-f any good End ever to, 
 be anfwered. But if all Things,. gocKl and bad, are 
 under the Government of infini«^e Wifdom.; this- 
 affords a.fure Profpedbof a happy Iflue.. And under 
 fuch a wife and pv^rfctjt Government, we have the 
 greatefllnducemcnt to go on chearfuJly. in tiieWays 
 
 of 
 
 * >b. t.— t 2 Sam, :Jt¥r» 
 
74 5^6^ Wisdom of God 
 
 cf our Duty ; having always an implicit Faith in the 
 
 Supreme Ruler of the Univerfe. Wherefore, the 
 
 Tru'h o~ the Do61rine being thus plain and evident, 
 I Oi-ll on y attempt to ihew, 
 
 I. What we are to underhand by God's /)^r- 
 mitiing Sin. And, 
 
 II. The JViJdom of God in the PermifTion of 
 Sin. And tlien, 
 
 III. Coti^tuDE with a pradtical Improvement. 
 
 I. What are ^e to underlland by God's per- 
 mitting Sin ? 
 
 1. Not that He loves Sin, or that there is any 
 Thing in theNature of Sin that he approves of. For 
 it is tlie abomhiab'e Thing, which his Soul hats-th. 
 AVhrn lie viewed the Temper, Conducfi: and-Dcfign 
 cf Jofeph's Brethren, they each of them appeared 
 pcrtecflly odious in his Eyes. Their Envy and Ma- 
 lice he abhorred : iheir cruel and barbarous Deed 
 lie detefted : their Defign intimated in that Saying, 
 '' And then ihall we fee what will become of his 
 
 '' Dreams,"* he perfc(5ily difapproved. 
 
 2. Much lefs are we to imagine, that God in 
 permitting Sin deprives the Sinner of the Freedom 
 of his V/ill. Jofeph's Brethren felt themfelves at 
 Liberty ; and in the whole Affair acled according 
 to their own Inclinations, — '}W?i as tliey pleafed. 
 
 3. God's permitrir.g Sin coriTiils nnerely in not 
 hindering of it. He fa-v, that Jofeph's Brcthrent, 
 confidering ilieir Tepjper, and liovv they had their 
 Brother out in the Field, and how that the lihmae- 
 Jitilh Merchants would focii come by, l^c h'c. 
 would certainly fell him, un'efs he intcrpofed 
 to hinder it. And He could have hindered their 
 fciliiig, ns cafily as he hindered their murdering him. 
 JBut he di'd not. He let ihcm take their Courfe. 
 
 4. Awi) 
 
SH the Termlfioyi of Si^^ 75* 
 
 4. And yet It is fclf-cvidcnt, God never permits 
 Sin, in the Charaaer of an unconcerned Speaator, 
 as not caring howAfFairs go -, but as having weighed 
 all Circumftances and Coufequences.— Theretore, 
 
 5. God never permits Sin, but only then, \vhen»~ 
 on the whole, all 'I'hings confidcred, he judges it 
 bert not to hinder it. And therefore,. 
 
 6. At whatever Tirn^ God forbears to interpofc,. 
 to hinder the Commiinon of any Ac^ of. Sin, he is 
 not only juaifiable in his Condufl, but even com- 
 mendable and praife-worthy ; becaufe he has chofea 
 
 to aa in the wifeil and. beft Manner. -But this 
 
 leads me, 
 
 II. To (hew the ^f^l/dom of God in the PermhTion 
 of Sin. And I will in the firft Place begin with 
 fome Inftances that arc more pkin and eafy, and 
 afterwards proceed to what is more intricate and 
 difficult. 
 
 id Instance. And to begin with the Affair of 
 
 cf Jcfy^^ There needs little to be faid, to ihew^ 
 
 the manifold Wifdom of God in it. For it does- 
 
 not appear,that God could, as Things were circum- 
 ftan^ed, have taken a better Method for the Ad- 
 vancement of Jbfeph to be Governor over all the 
 Land of Egypt, than this. It was a Metliod fuited 
 to humble Jofeph, and wean him from the World^ 
 and bring him to an entire Reiigrfcation to God, and 
 Dependence upon, and Devotednefs ta him ; and 
 to prepaye him for fo high a Station, that in it he 
 might condua with ail Fidelity ta Phaxaoh, And 
 Humility, Good.nefs and Cendefcenfion to aJl around 
 him ; to the Pionovir of the God of Ifrael, znd to. 
 the Reputation of true Religion, in the midft of a 
 People fmking down faji into Idolatry and Wicked- 
 nefer It was a Method fuited to. give him a high 
 Character in the Eyes of Pharaoh, and in the Eyes 
 ot aJi Egypt j as one dear tp the ^reat God, full of 
 
 Wifdom 
 
7<f T/:e Wisdom qf CoJ 
 
 Wifdom and Benevolence, and the fitteft Man in 
 Egypt to be fo highly advanced and (o far betruQed. 
 From a poor Prifoner, he rofe foon to fo high a.. 
 Chara(5tcr, and was fo highly efteemed, as to be- 
 come a Father to Pharaoh, and to all F^ypt. 
 
 Nor docs it appear, that, as Things were clr- 
 cumftanced, God could have taken a better Method* 
 than this, to provide for the Sudenance of Jacob's 
 Family, of the Egyptians, and of the Nations 
 tiiroughout the Land'of Canaan, thro' a Famine of 
 fcvenYears Continuance. It was a Method fuited to 
 difpofe Pharaoh, and all Egypt, to receive Jacob's. 
 Family kindly, and give them a hearty Welcome ; 
 as they were the Kindred of Jofeph, their great- 
 Benefacflor. It was a Method fuited to humble Jo- 
 f ph's Brethren, and not only to bring them to Re- 
 pentance for theirSin, but to a better Temper in gc- 
 eral. And, as the felling of Jofeph liad been 
 .latter of fevere Trial to Jacob, who verily thought 
 i.im dead, a-nd expe61ed to go down to the Grave 
 fjrrowing; fo, in the LTue, the whole was fuited 
 bundantly to efiablilh him in the Belief of the 
 Jcing and Perfecflions of God, and of his Govern- 
 ntnt of the World ; and to give him an affeding, 
 •avifliing Senfe of tlie Hoiinefs, Wifdom, Goodnefs, 
 'ower and Faithfulncf* of the God of Abraham, his 
 at her ; and to confirm him in the Expecftation of 
 i Tie Accompli fh;ment of all God's Promifcs. AndJ 
 lA the mean Time, the Egyptians, and ail the Na- 
 tions inhabiting the Land of Canaan, were provided 
 for with Food thro'*a long and fore Famine, in a 
 Manner fuited to convince them of the Vanity of 
 their Idols, and to bring them to an liigh Efteem of 
 theGod of the Hebrews, to whofe kind Interpofition 
 their whole Support was owing. And thus God feft 
 not hlmiclf without Witncfs, in that dark and be- 
 riightcd Age of the World, when all theNatioR-s were 
 
 Aiikin^ 
 
p? the PermiJfiQ-n 0/ SiiJ, fy 
 
 finkingfafl- down into Idolatry. For the whole Af- 
 fair of the felling of Jofeph, of the Condu6t of his 
 Mirttefs, of his unfhaken Virtue, of his Imprifon- 
 inent, of his interpreting the Dreams of his Fc!lo»v- 
 prifoners, of his being bro't to Pharaoh'5 Court and 
 interpreting his Dreams, of his Advancement, and 
 of all his Conduff in that high Station, would 
 naturally be noifed abroad, not only through- 
 out all Egypt, but alio thro' all thcLand of Canian, 
 from wheiKe they daily cams intoEgypt forB;ead; 
 yea, the News of thefe Thir gs would be apt to fly 
 far and wide among all the Nations round about, to 
 the Glory of the true God, and to the Honour of the 
 true Religion, and to the Condemnation of an idola- 
 trous World, who had forfaken the Lord Jehovah, 
 and gone after Idols, that .could neither fee, nor 
 
 hear, nor help. All which good Ends, and many 
 
 -more, God had in View, V/herefore, 
 
 Although Jofeph's Brethren a6ted a very wick- 
 ed, cruel, God-provoking Part, in felling their Bro- 
 ther, notwithftanding all his Cries and Tears and 
 the Anguilhof his Soul, v,fith an envious, malicious- 
 and impious Intention to prevent the Accortiplifh- 
 ment of his divine Dreams, fcafHngly faying among 
 themfelves, *' And then we ill all Tee what will be- 
 come of his Dreams :" Yet, at the fameTime,thc 
 God of Abraham aded truly like himfelf, a noble, 
 a ^od-like Part, in letting them take their Courfe, 
 \viph*a Defign to over-rule it as he did, to ac€ompiiil\ 
 his Dreams ; and that in a Way fo much to his 
 
 own Glory, and io much to the g:enera! Good . 
 
 And how know we, but that the infinitely wife 
 Governor of the Univcrfc, when he permitted An- 
 gels and Man to fall, and Things in the intelligent 
 iJyilem to take fuch a Courfe ns diey have, defigned 
 to r»ver-ru!e the Whole fo (according to. a Plan 
 h^' then had in View) as that iu the lilUc, God 
 
 ihould 
 
7^ The Wisdom of Goi 
 
 (hould be more exalted, and the Syftem more holy 
 
 aiid happy, than if Sin andMifery had never entered ? 
 
 B^:t to proceed to a 
 
 id. Instance of the Wifdom of God in thePer- 
 
 miirion of S'm. Sometime after Jofeph's Death, 
 
 when the Children of Ifrael were greatly multiplied, 
 
 there arofe another King m Egypt, who knew not 
 
 Jofeph, nor paid the leatt Regard to his Memory ; 
 
 who, to enrich himfelf, attempted to bring the Ifra- 
 
 clites into a perpetual Bondage : and to that End 
 
 fet Task- Mafters over them, who made them fervc 
 
 with Rigour. And, obfcrving how exceedingly they 
 
 multiplied, left they fl-Knild become too numerous 
 
 and potent, and get themfelves up out of a Land in 
 
 which they were fo abufed, Pharaoh ordered the 
 
 Midwives to kill their Male Children. But theMid- 
 
 wives proving unfaithful to his Injunctions, belaid 
 
 his Commands on all his People in general, to take 
 
 everyMale Child,and caft them into theRiver.f All 
 
 which was inhuman and barbarous tothe laftDcgrcc, 
 
 As God had provided for the kind Entertainment 
 
 of the Ifraelites by the Means of Jofeph, whom he 
 
 fent before them ; fo he could have provided for the 
 
 Continuation of their Tranquillity, and reftrained 
 
 Pharaoh from this Tyrannical Condud : But he 
 
 -chofe to bring all thefeDiftreiTcs upon them,to wcaa 
 
 them from the Idols and Pleafures of Egypt, to 
 
 make them mindful of the promifed Land, and to 
 
 ■ prepare them for their approaching; Deliverance, and 
 
 .-or their Wildernefs-Travels. Therefore he wifely 
 
 t Pharoah take his Courfe. For the Ifraelites 
 
 -^ ere fo kindly received in Jofeph's Day,and fo gcn^ 
 
 'illy provided for, tl'.at they began after a While 
 
 forget the Land of Canaan, and feel themfelves 
 
 Home, and fall in Love with the Cuftoms arid 
 
 ^ .olatries of Egypt ; And bad it not been that Ph?i- 
 
 t Exod. I. 
 
/// the PermiJJtQn ^/* SirT, 7^' 
 
 raoli attempted their SIavery,and treated them with 
 fo great Severity, there would have been Daa^er oi 
 their forgetting the God of rheir Fathers tota;iy,ar.d 
 incorporating at length with the Egyptians. So that 
 they greatly needed thefe DiftrelTcs, to mike them 
 willing to leave Egypt, and difcern the Goodnefs of 
 God in their Deliverance, and to awaken tlietn and 
 their Pofterity in Ages then to come, to a Scnfc of 
 their great Obligations to God, who brought them 
 out of the Land of Egypt, and out of thu irioufe of 
 Bondage. * 
 
 Besides, at the fame Time that God, by th« 
 cruel Tyranny of Pharaoh, was preparing the 
 -Ifraelites for their Deliverance, he alfo over-ruled 
 his Barbarity to give an Occafion of raifing them up 
 a Deliverer. For Pharaoh having ordered all ther 
 Male Children to be caft into the River, Mofes's 
 Mother, after having concealed him three Months^ 
 durll keep him no longer, and fo left him in an Arlc 
 of Bulrufiics, at the Side of the River, to the Mere/ 
 of the cruel Egyptians. Hore Pharaoh's Daughter 
 
 finds him — is touched with CoNipairion relie^res 
 
 the poor weeping Infant. — And now Mofcs is called 
 the '' Son of Pharaoh's Daughter," and is educated 
 in Pharaoh's Court, and intruded in ilkhe Learning, 
 of Egypt ; and finally, complcatly furniflied for ih« 
 glorious Work defigncd him. For Pharaoh fcekin_g 
 Mofes his Life, he was obliged to Acs to the Land ot 
 Midian ; where, in the folitary Life of a Shepherd^ 
 he fpent 40 Years, until he became the meekelt 
 Man on Earth. And being thus endowed with an 
 extraordinary Meafure of human Learning and oi 
 divine Grace, God fends him to deliver his Peo- 
 ple, who had been groaning under their fore Bon- 
 dage above an 100 Years. " O the Depth of the 
 fCiiowltj.jgc and Wifdom of God" I 
 
 H Tia 
 
 XX ; 
 
•So 9ltf Wisdom of Goi 
 
 The very Methods, which Pharaoh, in his great 
 Pohcy, takes to bind down the Hebrews in perpetual 
 JSlavery, God over-rules, to prepare them for,and to 
 bring about their Deliverance. And while Pharaoh 
 is hurried on in his Schemes, by his infatiable 
 Avarice, and indulges to barbarous Cruelty, God, 
 <he infinitely wife Superintendent, calmly looks on, 
 and lets him take iiis Courfe, confcious to his own 
 Alfnightinefs, and having his own glorious Plan all 
 before him. — And how know we, but that tliis fame 
 infinitely wife Being, who has had the Government 
 cf the Univerfe in his Hands from the Beginning, 
 had fome noble, God-like Defign in View, when he" 
 firft permitt-cd Sin andMifery to enter into the World 
 which he had made ? 
 But to proceed to a 
 
 3d. Instance of the Wifdom of God in the Per- 
 milTion of Sin. 
 
 Pharaoh, full of a Senfe of his own Grcatnefs 
 and Power, and of the Advantages which would 
 accrue to him from theLabours of fo many Servants, 
 no fooner perceived Mofes's Defign, but he firmly 
 refolved never Xo let Ifrael go. And when Mof^s 
 afiured him that the (jcd of the Hebrews had ap- 
 peared to him, he bid Defiance, not only to Mofes, 
 but to his God. *"' 1 know not the Lord, nor will 
 I let Ifrael go." And the more Mofes infifted upon 
 their Relenfe, the more his Pride and Covetoalnefs 
 wrought. For hisHonour's fake he fcorncd to yield r' 
 snd for his liuerefi's fake he many a Time refolve4 
 he never would. 
 
 For the fuprcme Monarch of the Univerfe, who 
 does according to his Pleafure in the Arniics of 
 Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, 
 had looked on the bold, i:the daring, the haugl>|y 
 'vVretch, and determinedJo leave him to hisowa, 
 iieart, to take his own Way^ and do as he pkafea i 
 
 fprefecing 
 
in the PermiJJton of Si^* Sr 
 
 forefeeing juft how he would condu6t, and how the 
 Aifair would finally iflue. 
 
 , Go>fays God to Moles, Go in to Pharaoh, and 
 fay, *' Thus faith the Lord, let liracl go, that they 
 may ferve me : But I am fure, that the King of 
 Egypt will not kt you go : no, not by a mighty 
 lianJ. And I will ilretcli out my Hand, and Imite 
 Egypt with air my Wonders whicli 1 will do in the 
 Midil thereof". AndPharaoIi iball know,that I am the 
 Lord : and the Egyptians fiiail know, that I am the 
 Lord : Yea, my Name (hall be declared through- 
 out all the Earth. And thus do I order the Affair, 
 that thou alfo mayft tell in the Ears of thy Son, and 
 of thy Son's Son, whut Things I have wrought in 
 Eiiypt, and my Signs that I havedcc amongil them; 
 that ye m^y know, that I am the Dord." 
 
 Mos2s goes, and delivers his Mefiage to Pha- 
 raoh, fayiiigs *' Thus- fairh the Lord God of the 
 Hebrews^ Lei myPeople go,that they may ferve me.'^ 
 
 •' lie gone to your Burdens", fays Pharaoh to 
 
 the iTcaclites. " And youMoftSj do you hinder the 
 People no longer frotirdieirLabour. And you Talk- 
 A'larters, give them no Srrav*^. P'or they are idle an(i 
 wanton, and full of Notions : but 1 will tame thef^ 
 Hebrews, and make then:!- knov/, they had better 
 been content where ihey were. "-So tlieTafl:- Makers 
 with Rigour- drive on the Ifraeiites to perform theii- 
 impoillbie Tafks- — ^and beat them for Non-perfcr- 
 mance. They cry to Pharaoh, but cry in vain. 
 •* Ye are idle, ye are idle,'* fays he, and full of' 
 Notio IS. Be gone ! No Mercy fhall be (hewn you. 
 Lwili make you repent your new Scheme, before I 
 have done wiih you. — ThusPharaoh florins, drives, 
 fets up himfelf, hardens his Heart, rcfolved the/ 
 (hall never go. 
 
 WriEREUPON tbc God of Ifracl " wrought h'-j 
 *' Si^ns in E?:.vp^ and his V/onders in tht Field of 
 
«2 Ti^ WiSCOM of G^ 
 
 «* Zoan. He turned their Rivers into Blood ; and 
 ^* tlieir FJoods,that they could not drink. He fent 
 .** divers Sorts of Fjies among them, which devoured 
 ** them, and Frogs which dcftroyed them. He 
 *' gave alio their Increafe unto the Caterpillar, and 
 «* ilicir Labour unto the Locuft. He devoured 
 •< their Vines with Hail, and their Sycomore-' 
 ♦* 'JVees with Frofl. He gave up their Cattle 
 ** alfo to the Hail, and iheir Flocks to hot 
 ♦* 71-iunder- Bolts. He caft upon them the Fierce-" 
 ^ r.efs of his Anger, Wrath and Indignation, and 
 •* Trouble, b) fending evilArgels among them. Fie 
 *' made a Way to his Anger ; he fpared not their 
 ♦* Soul from Death : but gave their Life over to the 
 *' Pcnilcnce. And fmotc all the Firft-born in 
 ** Egypt ; the chief of their Strength, in theTaber- 
 •• nacles of Ham. But made his own People go 
 ** forth like Sheep. He led them on fafely : but 
 •* the Sea over- whelmed their Enemies." 
 
 Pharaoh's Defign was, if pcflible, to prevent 
 the Kgrefs of the Hebrews ; that he might keep 
 shcm for his Slaves : and that they, and all the 
 World might know, that he was too potent and 
 >nig1ity a Prince to be fubducd and conquered by 
 tht God of the Hebrcv.s, to whom from the Begin- 
 ning he had bid Defiance. 
 
 God's Df figns were, by fcvcrc and cruel Bon- 
 ilage^ to wean the Ih aelitcs from Egypt ; or at lead, 
 to force thcnij weaned, or net, to leave the Country, 
 find be gone. Therefore he let Pharaoh loofe, fo 
 ;mmerciru]ly to opprcfs them. And as for Pharaoh, 
 ri*?dlerhim]Lftuphimfelf,harden'hisHeart,beasftout 
 yiid haughty as he pleafed : That as he was defiroys, 
 io he x*iiig!it liave fullOpportunity to try hisStren*;th 
 whh ti:c God of the Hebrews. That in the Jfiore, 
 He might ktiow, and the Egyptians might kno^- 
 
 ^hek ^^hame and Confufion; — 'I'ha: he v/a?'*-v 
 
h the PemiJJian of Si>T. 8^ 
 
 Lord, the only true and living God, intinitely Tupc 
 riour to all their Idols. And in the meanTiir.'^ 
 he defigned to give a lively Picture of himfelf, as r - 
 one infinitely too wife, great and powerful, f> 
 feeble Mortals to contend with ; Refolved to vin- 
 dicate his o'vvn Honour, at all Events ; and revenge 
 Affronts offered his Majefty •, and carry on his own 
 Defigns in Spite of all 'Oppcfition. That the 
 Ifraelitfs migkt fee it, and iinow it for their Good 
 That all the Inhabitants of Canaan might be ftruc':. 
 into a Panick : and indeed, that his Name might be 
 declared throughout all the Karth. For he intended^ 
 that thcfe his mighty Works fliould never be for- 
 gotten among Men, fo Ion j as the Sun and Moon 
 fliouIJ endure. 
 
 Metkinks, I behold Mofcs, on the other SIdQ 
 of the Red Sea, flandmg fafc on tlie Shore, while 
 the Carcafes of the Egyptians, their broken Chr 
 riots, their drowned Korfcs, Part funk to theBottroni, 
 and Part floatnng upon the Sea, and fcattered alon^ 
 the Coalls. There He ftands— He looks back- 
 He furveys the gracious, the dreadful, the gloriou? 
 Works of the God of Abraham, from the Day h^ 
 fav/ the Burning Budi in the Wildernefs of Hor.eb, 
 and received his Commiffion to a6l in this grand 
 Affair. — Pharaoh's haughty Temper, his impious, 
 covetous, tyrannical, deceitful Condu(5):, all rife clear 
 
 to his View The aftonifh-ng Works of the Goa 
 
 of Ifrael, Flis righteous Vengeance on his Foes, His 
 felf-moving Goodnefs and fovereign Grace to the 
 Ifraelites, torn away from their Idols, and delivce.d. 
 out of the Houfe of Bondage, all fill his aftoniihed 
 Soul ; and the powerful Imprelfions penetrate the 
 
 Center of his Heart. Helooks fcrward too to the 
 
 promifed Canaan, to which the Almighty had riow 
 undertaken to lead them, and imagines what Terror 
 \ ^ gf ciU thefe Things would fpread thrcugli 
 
 J 
 
ti The Wisdom of Goi 
 
 all the Land. InCpled with thefeVIewf, ravifheJ 
 
 >vith the G'cwy of tlie God oF ifrael, charmed witb 
 the MajeAy and Beau-ty of the divine Condu<2, He 
 fpake, fayirig, 
 
 *' I will (iRg unto-tlte Lord, for he hath tri- 
 •* umphed glorioufiy ; the Korfe and' his Rider 
 •' hath he thrown into the Sea^ Tluc I>oPv.d is my 
 •* Strength and Seng, and lie is become r.iy Salva- 
 •* tlon : He is my Goi>, and 1 wal prepare him an 
 •' Habitation ; my Father's God, and I v/iJl exalt 
 
 •' him. Thy right Hand, O Lorl^, is become 
 
 •* glorious in Power i thy eight Hand, O Lord,. 
 ** hath dad.ed in Pieces the Enemy.. And: in the 
 '^ Greatnefs of thine Excelleney thou haft over- 
 *♦ thrown them that rofe up againfl thee. Thoi* 
 ** fenteft forth thy Wrath, \v,hicli confumed them as^ 
 ^* Stubble.— —Who is like unto tbec^ O Lord^ 
 •' amongst the Gcds ?- Wht>^is like unto thee, glo- 
 ^' rious in Holinefs, fearful in. Pr.aife*^, doing Won- 
 
 *♦ ders ? l^hou-in thy Mercy haft led forth the 
 
 •* People which thou haft redeemed. The Pco- 
 
 *' pie Ihall hear, and be afraid; Sorrow fl^all take 
 
 •' hold on the Inhabitants of Paleftine. All the 
 
 •* In]>;^bitants of Canaan fiiall melt away. Fear and- 
 ♦* Dread fhail fall upon them- ; by theGreatnefs of 
 ** thine Arm they Ihall be as ftill as a Stone : till 
 •* thy People pais over, O XxjRTJ, till the People 
 
 *' pais over, which thou haft purchafed. The 
 
 ** Lord ftiall reign for ever and' ever. * 
 
 And while Mofes thus fang the Praifes of God^ 
 the fupreuic Monarch of tlie Univerfe, and cele- 
 brated his glorious Triumph over Pharaoh and all 
 his Idol-Gods y fo ravished with theWifdom, Gjery 
 and Beauty of the divine Cond\.i6>,. as to be even 
 more attached to his Mor.our and Intereft than ever, 
 aod even the better prepared to condu<5t v^ith that 
 
 * ? £jicd. XV. 
 
ift the Permtjfion of Sfi^ t$ 
 
 fiCTi^y Fidelity thra*^ all rl^e future Trials of hisLife, 
 always true to God, and hcarti'y concerned to fee 
 theHonour of his great Name fecurcd ; I fay, while 
 Mofcs was full of tb^Ce divine Views and Tempers 
 on this grai-id Occafion, 2»11 Egypt were in profound 
 Darkncli : and thefe Difpcnfations, fo bright and 
 glorious in. the View of MofJe$» to them, appeared 
 gloGfiiy as Dea^lv. 
 
 And if thefe Difpenfatiorts of divine Providence, 
 vhlch to the Egyptians appeared fo dark, and gloo- 
 my,, to Mofes appeared fo full of divine Wifdom^ 
 Beauty and Glory ; how kjiow we^but that GodV 
 whole Plan of Government, how dark foever it may 
 now appear to a revolted Worlds under God's Dif- 
 pl«afure, may to Saiiit* and Angels, after the gene- 
 ral Judgment, appear perfe^fl in Wifdom, GJory 
 and Beauty,, and be Matter of their eternal Delight 
 and Praife. But to proceed, 
 
 4. To ether Inftancei of the: Wifdom of God ii\ 
 the Permiffioniof Sin.. 
 
 The Ifraelitesy having thus cfcapcd the Hands of 
 Pharaoh;^ ar.d recovered their Liberty, had it beea 
 Jcft to them to direcft their March, and point out 
 tlieir future Fortunes^ they might perhaps have 
 thought it ben'-,that being led on dircfily to the Land 
 of Canasn, they iliould by the migjity Power of God 
 have been put into an immedrateFom:ffion,to be fol- 
 lowed witii Scenes of Feafting, Joy and. Mirth, ne- 
 ver to be interrupted; 
 
 But God, who knew thcirHe::rt», ^Ho knew hovi^ 
 dfeeply tainted they were with the Idolatries andMan* 
 ncrs of Egypt, snd how high a Reliih they had to 
 fcnfual Pleafures, might ealily forefee how all Senfc 
 Crf the true God would foon bs loft in tlve mid ft of 
 fuch Profperity, and they become no better than the 
 ejected Canaantes. Bcfides, he A»w that in ^Imok 
 every Rcfpcd tliey were as yet vinprcpajred to enter 
 H4 Oit 
 
^^ Thti Wisdom of Go J 
 
 V" 
 
 the prornifed Land. And alfo he defignccl them for 
 our Enfamples, and his Difpenfations towards them 
 for the Inrtrucflion of Mankind to the End of the 
 
 World. Wherefore let us attend to the divine 
 
 Conduct, and behoJd the manifold Wifdom of God. 
 
 He had torn them away from their Idols, their 
 I,eek», their Onions, and theirFlelh-Pots ; to which 
 they were ftupidly attached. He had fent to them 
 by Mofes, and cominanded, " that ihcy fhould caft 
 " away every -Man the Abominations of his Eyes, 
 ^ and not defile themfelves with the Idols of Egypt 
 
 any more ; for that he, himfclf, v/as the Lord 
 
 ■ their God.'* But altho' the Thunder of divine 
 
 V/rath, fo dreadfully roared throughout all theLand 
 of Egypt among the Egyptians, and God was now 
 in a miraculous iManner working their Deliverance ; 
 yet, even now they rebelled againft the Lord, and 
 would not hearken unto him. *' They did not 
 " every Man caft away the Abominations of their 
 '' Eyes, neither did they forfake theldois of Egypt.." 
 Wherefore God faid, *' 1 will pour out my 
 '' Fury upon them, to accompliHi mine Anger 
 '' upon them in the rnidil of the Land of Egypt."* 
 
 But 
 
 ■ If when God met with fuch infinite Provocations at the 
 Hand* of the Hebrews, he coald yet find in his Heart to 
 profccutc his De(ign,and accomplilh his Promife toAbra- 
 hani, that to his Seed he would give the Land of Canaan.; 
 \re cannot have the lead Rcafon to doubt, but that, not- 
 vithftanding all the prefent Wickedncfs of his profe/Ting 
 People in the World, whereby he is infinitely provoked 
 to rcfign all Chrillsndom to Dcftrut.'lion, he will yet 
 profecate hisDefigns, and acconaplifli all his Promifcs-— — 
 «• Give to his Son the Heathen for hi« Inheritance, and 
 
 ' the utmofl Parts of the Earth for iiis PofleiHon ; and 
 bring every People, Nation, Language and Tongue to 
 ferve him : and Satan /hall be bound, and Chrill fiuU 
 icign on Earth, foiaThvurpdlcarj."-— No Obftacies, nc 
 
 Pifeouiagc^ 
 
/;/ the PermtJJion cf Sdh. 87 
 
 Bat then God confidcrcd what the Egyptians 
 would fay to fuch a Difpenfation of Providence, and 
 how it would be mifintcrpreted thro' allNations and 
 
 Ages " Wherefore he wrought for his great 
 
 ♦« ^Name's fake, that it might not be polluted before 
 ** the Heathen, among whom they were, and in 
 '' whofe Sight, (iod intended to make himfelf 
 *' known to the Ifraelites, by bringing them out of 
 »* the Land of Egypt." f And therefore inflead of 
 the De.lruclion they defcrved from his Hands for 
 their ftupid Attachment to the Egyptian Abomina- 
 tions, Gad let loofe Pharaoh 10 increafe their Bur- 
 dens, to make their Bondage abfolutely intolerable, 
 that he might force them from their Idols, and 
 
 drive them out of Egypt. And to bring them 
 
 Itill more to their Senfes, Goi let Pharaoh loofc to 
 purfue them with Chariots, and Horfe-men, and a 
 great Army ; and contrived that he iliould overtake 
 lhem,niut in among theMountains, unable to make 
 theirEfcape ; that he might have Opportunity to let 
 Ifracl fee his mighty Power, in dividmg the Sea, and 
 make them feel their Dependance upon, and Ob- 
 ligations to him : and that having led them thro* 
 tlic Sea, he might have them in a barren Wilder- 
 nefs, where there was neither Bread, nor Fleih, nor 
 Water, as the fiiteft Scene for thofe Tranfadions 
 and grand Events, belonging to the intinitely wife 
 Plan, which God had laid out. Israel 
 
 ■ Difcouragem^nts, no ProrocdtionS, no Dil!icuhlc8, of 
 whatever Kind, or however great, can hinder God fconj 
 thcAcconiplifliment of the gloriousDefigns ofhisGracc. — 
 He r«dcemed ifrael out of Rgypt, altho' he faw what 
 Th?y were ihcn, and what tht*y would be in all future 
 Timeg. — Yca, he has given his Son, tnd that to t^c 
 Death of the'Crofs, in order to carry on his Ddigns.^— 
 
 And what will not God Almighty then <^o ? Al- 
 
 >uGHTiNESs, fo INFINITELY engaged, cannot, and will 
 . ct b? frufrratcd. \ Ezck. XX. f,— 9. 
 
^^> The Wisdom of Goa 
 
 IsRAFL had been In Egypt 115 Years.* And the 
 latter Part ot theTimt/or above ?.n IkiKlredYtar?, 
 in a State of Bonda»;e & Slavery. — TJiey had ainioil 
 furgcttcn the true God, and the wwi Relij^ion, were 
 habituated to the Idohitryand Manners "of Egvpt, 
 well pleafed with the Country ; and; but forTheic. 
 Oppreffionsywculd never have entert?ined anyTho't? > 
 of leaving it. Yea, notwlthfLancing tluir fevere 
 ^ Bondage, v^ere hirdly prevailed upon to licarken to 
 , Mofcs, to whom they faid, '' Let us alone, thatws 
 ; may fcrve the Egyptians," as they i;frei wards up- 
 braided him in their Dilireis at theRc(i-.Sca.-f-rAnd 
 they were of fo mean and daftardlya S^)l!it, as to be 
 
 i unfit to march againfl- their Enemies.- God.wlior^ 
 
 ! knew their Temper, j'u%ed,thut if he h^d \t^ them. 
 i from Egypt ftrait to Cai.jan, which was not an 
 ^ hundred Miks ihTtant, the Approach of their Ene- 
 \ Di'ics, prepared (or War, vvouid have irighrci thnr* 
 ^ack again to Egypt.t— Yea, mch was thtir Attach- 
 ment 
 
 '* From the Covenant with Abnra, to the nlvJng of rlij 
 L,aw, was (a»St. Paul afTcrts, Gal. III. 17.) 450 Years. 
 And this will gtvft Light to Gen. XV. 13. and to Exod. 
 
 J: XII. 40, 41. For thcLa*.v was giyeafcon after thcycamf 
 
 il out of Egypt. 
 
 I Joseph was 17 Years old, when he was fold, and it \% 
 ^^::ppofcd he was foon iKiprifontd. perhaps the very fame 
 Year, and {fi that he lay in Prifon ai>out 13 Ye?.rs ; for 
 ■.e was 30 at his Advancc^icrtt. After which, io ubout 9. 
 i'ears, Jacob and.all his Family eanic down into Egypt. 
 After wh'ch, Jofcph lived 71 Years. And fo in ail, was 
 sn the grcateit Honour 8o- Years, to counterbalance 13 
 
 Years of Sorrow. ifraeleame out of Rr^pt r44Years 
 
 \ftcr Jofeph's Death ; the greateft Part of whichyTimcr 
 ihey were under OpprclTian. — Mofes was born 64 Years 
 dfter Jofeph's Death —fpent 40 ia Pharaoii's CoRrt—and 
 40 in the Land of Midian. 
 t EioJ.XIV. 12. t Exo4. XIII. »:. 
 
4n the TermiJJivi of Si}^, ■ %^ 
 
 jnent to Egypt, their CoIdnefstoCanaan, theirCow- 
 ardice, and their Ihipid lnlidelity,evcn after aYcar*s 
 Difciphne in the Wildernefs, and nocwithllinding 
 their folemn ProfelF:oii and Promiles to God at 
 Mount t'inai, that upon the ill Tidings of theSpies, 
 they were for rtoning Caleb and Jolhua, ac i mak- 
 ing to thcmfelves a Captain, and returning to their 
 beloved Egypt. 
 
 Now fuch were the People God had to manage, 
 fo every Way diftempered, that they needed all their 
 old Notions, Taftes and',Tempers \o be eradicated j 
 and to have their Minds wholly framed a-new, in 
 order to befit Inhabitant! for the holy Land. 
 
 They muft be tlioroughly weaned from Egvpt, 
 from their Idolatry and theirManners ; and be bro't 
 to know the true God, and to be fcnfible of his infi- 
 nite Abhorrence of their Tempers and Ways ; and 
 have their Hearts effecflualiy broken under a Scnfc 
 of theirVilenefs : that they might loath thcmfelves, 
 and turn to theLord,and love hun, and be prepared 
 to undcrfiand and fall in with the Religion he gav€ 
 them from Mount Sinai, that they might be an holy 
 People to the Lord, a Kingdom of Priefts, and 
 an holy Nation ; that they might be to his Praife 
 and Glory, in the midft of an idolatrous benighted 
 World ; and tlirt they might receive the promifed 
 Land, not as a iCev/ard of their Righteoufnefs, — tor 
 they were a fiiff-necked People ; but as a mere free 
 Gift from the God of Abraham, their Father; and 
 fed themfelvesjby the Means, laid under the firong- 
 eft Obligations to love hitn, and fear him, and wajk 
 'ii all his Ways, and ket-p ull his Commands : And 
 - 1 the fame Time, be fo inured to .Harclfi-iip, and fo 
 rhoro'ly confirmed in the lieli^f of the ijeing and 
 Perfections of God, as that, in an entire D'ependance 
 ;n the Lord, they miglu marcl; into tht promifed 
 L;jnd, aud behave Jikc valiant Soldiers, and execute 
 
 God's 
 
§<0 Vn^e Wisdom of God 
 
 God's Vengeance on thofe idolatrous Nations,w]iom 
 he had doomed to Deftrudion -, break down their 
 Altars, cut down their Groves, burn theicGods, 
 and extirpate both them and their Religion from off 
 the Face ot the Earth. 
 
 And what Method, better fuitcd to anfwer thcfe 
 noble Ends, could pofTibly have been devifed, than 
 that which the Lord their God took, for the Space 
 of forty Years in theWildernefs : Wherein he hum- 
 bled them, and proved them, and tried them, that 
 it might appear what was in their Hearts : £<id he 
 left them to hunger and to third, and to murmur 
 find rebel, and to commit Idolatry,that their Hearts 
 might be turned infide out before their Eyes : anU 
 by a longCourfe of Difcipline^he trained them up to 
 a Senfe of his Being, and Perfc(5tions, and Govern- 
 ment, and to feel their Dependance on him, and 
 Obligations to him, and by Experience learn the 
 dreadful Nature of Sin. He fed them with Angels 
 Food, and gave them Water out of the flintyRock: 
 he led them by Day in a Cloud, and in -the Night 
 by a Pillar of Fire : but when they rebelled, the 
 Earth opened its Mouth, arid fwallowed up Hun- 
 dreds, and the Plague fwept away Thoufands at a 
 Stroke ; yea, at laft, the whole Congregation of Six 
 Hundred Thoufand were doomed to fall in theWil- 
 dernefs. 
 
 Nothing impreHes the Heart of a human Crea- 
 ture like Facts. Nor could any Series of Fas^s 
 have been better contrived than thefc,to reach their 
 Hearts, and make them feel what they were in the 
 Sight of infinite Hohnefs, and to bring them to fear 
 Ihe glorious and fcarfulName of thcLord rhcirGod. 
 
 At the Side of the Red-Sea, they were, to Ap-^ 
 pearance, full of Love to God, and there they fang 
 his Praife : And had Things gone to their Minds, 
 they might never havefufpecfted the fecrctHypocrify 
 
In tic PcrmijTion ^/ SiK» 9^ 
 
 of theirHearts. — But asGod had contrived thePJan, 
 in three Days their religious Affedions were gone, 
 and their corrupt Hearts, like the troubled Sea, caft 
 up Mire and Dirt.— ^God knew what they were be- 
 fore : and it was wife in him, to take this Method^ 
 to brin^ them to kiiow it too. 
 
 At MoitntSinai,thcy were again deeply affedted, 
 when the Law was given, in aManner fo folcmn and 
 divine : and there they proniifed,that wharlbever the- 
 Lord their God fliould command them, tl?at would 
 they do.--^— Butin lefs than forty Days, they madj 
 them a Call" after the Mannerof Egypt, ;:nd eat and 
 drank,and rofc up toPJay, after thcL^yptranMode.-^ 
 God knew before, that all this was in their Hearts : 
 and now he wifely permitted it to break out, that, 
 they might know it too : and that he might have * 
 good Opportunity to let them fee how exceedinglv 
 
 he hated their Ways. -He liad tried Words, but 
 
 thcfe would not do. He had u-fcd the plain^ft and. 
 ftrongeft Expreffions in the firft and fecond Com- 
 mandments, but they were not effeeluah — Now he 
 proceeds to Pacts — ThreeThoufand are llain bytha* 
 .Sword at his Command, to let the whole Congrega-^ 
 tion KNOW hov; deteiUbJe their Condud was in his 
 Eyes. * 
 
 And fo again, wliile the Tabernacle was build -» 
 ing, and at the Time of its Dedication, they ap« 
 peared very forward in Religion, as tho' they loved 
 God, and iovfd his Worlliip, and were determined 
 for the future to be an obedient People : And 
 
 h;=: 
 
 tni 
 lad for about a Year. And doubtleYs they though' 
 ^f Ives fincere, and always might Have thdu^h 
 
 no new Trials come on. B-jt-no foor.c. 
 
 i.s return from viewing theLarid of Ca- 
 bring ill Tiding?, but their c'd F/';y;7tin.n 
 .f ail revived. Xqw Joiiiu, 
 
 xod. XXXII. 2%. 
 
2 The Wisdom of Csd 
 
 jufl- be Hcncd for pleading the Lord's Ca life, and a 
 
 jw Captain chofen to condudl them back to Egypt, 
 
 hich they left with Reludtance about a Year ago : 
 
 lUing, itfecms, forever to part with their God, 
 
 air i^ibernacle,an<i their Religion ; and turn back. 
 
 ) the Idols, and Minners, aad Leeks, and Onions 
 
 : Eaypt ', and make their Peace with the Egyptians 
 
 s they could. And had not the ALMIGHTY fud- 
 
 ■enly intcrpofed, no doubt, dreadful Deeds would 
 
 on have been done.— God knew, all this was m 
 
 >cir Hearts before : and now he wifely pcnnitted 
 
 to break put, that they might know it too : and 
 
 \\2X by his future Condu<5l toward that Pcopl&yiie 
 
 ight let them know that he was the Lord, and fill 
 
 -he whole Earth with his Glory. * 
 
 And while that Generation was doomed to wan- 
 
 crForty Years in theWildernefs,and their Carcafcs 
 
 :ere to fall, as the jull Punifliment of theii Crimes ; 
 
 leir Poflerity, bythe Means, had their Egyptian 
 
 otions and Tempers eradicated, and were trained 
 
 ;) in the Knowledge of God, and of the true Rcii- 
 
 on ; and prepared to enter, conquer, .and poflefs 
 
 s holy Land. Nor could they ever, to their flying 
 
 )ay, forget the Works of the Lord their God, 
 
 'hich they had feen inEgypt,at the Red Sea, in the 
 
 '/ildernels, &c. Nor could they have had fironger 
 
 ducements to tell thefe Thing* to their Sons, 
 
 :id Sons Sons. Nor could a better Method have 
 
 been taken to lay a lafling Foundation for a firm 
 
 Belief, and fteady Pradice of the true Religion. 
 
 It was moft for the Honour of God, and moft 
 for the Intereft of Religion ; and fo really for the 
 beft Good of the Ifraelites,that they fliouid be thus 
 *ried,lcft to aft out theirHearts, and then puniflied, 
 abdued,humb]ed& bro't into Subjeftion to the divine 
 Authority, before they entered into Pofl^fTton- ot the 
 
 proHiifcd 
 l KaiU. XIV. 
 
/;/ ths Per?nijjicii $f Sii*i. J3 
 
 promifed Lsnd ; altho' it coft them Six Hundred 
 
 Tiiouiand Lives, and many a dreadful Day. •- 
 
 For, to what Purpofe liad it been, for God to have 
 brought them ftraight frcm Egypt, with all their 
 Egyptian Notions and Tempers, into the holy Land, 
 there to have polluted it, and to have difiionoured 
 him with their Abominations ?"* 
 
 Besides, from thcMurmurrngs andRebellicns of 
 thcIlVaelitcs in the Wiidernefs, there was the fulleft 
 Demonftration of theDivinity of the jewifli Religion. 
 For, iiad notMoJes been fent of God, and fupported 
 too by the Interpdhtion of Almighty Power, it had 
 been impolfible he fhculdhave accomplid-ied the 
 
 Dciign, -ThegiR would fureJy have deferred him, 
 
 aiul returned to Kgypt ag^iin. Nor could :' ^ 
 
 Ch Idren of lfrad,how degener^e foeverthey wer , 
 ?i\d how- apt foever to fall irtto Idolatry, in afrer- 
 A'^es^ ever once fcruple v;hether Mofes were indeed 
 fent of God, after fuch a Scene of Wonders for forty 
 Years togetlier. Nor does it appear^ that the divir/G 
 Legation of Mofcs was ever called in C^iel^ton by 
 that People. 
 
 I 2 An ) 
 
 * If it WIS wife in God fo toordQr,tIiat ihc Ifisclltes i\wi^}fX 
 be opprciTcd above an hundred Years before ilicrr D(^fi«. 
 verancc, and then pafs thro' fuch gvjiX T^Trjis ferry Years 
 more, before iheir Entrance into the holy LiMj hOfV 
 know wc but it may be v/ife, that ilie Chriflii^Chur^h 
 in general, and we inNew-Engldlid in prticular.fhcu.'d y 
 thro' very dark, and trying 'limca. for a Jong Sci^fon, I 
 fore God begins to work Deliverance, in th.u rcnwrka- 
 Manner, wliich may be expcfled at the ulherin^ in of 
 glorious Days. To befure,there feems to lie^FoundSif 
 laid for great Difhc/Tea, and of long rcmriniiancj^, for c. 
 fiitful Land. Better fo, than to b« left to Il-'epon,iic'. : . 
 iri Sin. Nothing fo dreadful, as to be given uj» to c^; ■ 
 Kai Security, an"3 fuffcred to go ou ia Wicjwcdiicfs asd 
 
^A The Wisdom cf Cod 
 
 And ^^■!•;cncver ihcy read over the Law of Mofes, 
 together wiih the Hlfiory inteirpcrrcd intliofe facred 
 •ooks, they iniglu not only Jearn the Nature of 
 }o<l and Man, ami lee God's Right to command, 
 !:eirOb)ioations to obey, and llie great Evil of Sin, 
 ; om tlic Law of MofcSjas being therein held forth ; 
 Mit might behold all ihele excmplihed, in a moft 
 
 .'riking Manner, in a Series of Facts. Let them 
 
 ut view the divine Conduct in Egypt, at the Red- 
 ije2, in the WDdernefs, &c. and it would iiive 
 ;liem a moil lively Piclure of the the Divine Na- 
 cre : for here they had the jfi I STORY of the 
 'Deity, -^ — And let them view^he Conduct of the 
 Jfraelites, from iirll to la{>, and^would give them 
 
 - moA livjly Pi(51ure of human Nature : for here 
 'ley had it aiflcd^ cut to the Life. — And God's 
 ■lisht to commani^ their Obligations to obey, and 
 'le great Evd cf Stn are ftt iri the firongcft Lighl. 
 
 — Nor were the A^dvantages of thefe Tranfac^^ioni 
 onfined to thofe Ages : for all thcfe Things hap- 
 pened and were written for our Inilru6\ion,on whom 
 the Ends of the World are come. God is ft ill the 
 
 ane : and fo is*}iuirian Nature too. For as 
 'ace anfwers to Face in a Glafs, fo does tl;e 
 
 :ieart of Man to Man. O the Depth of the 
 
 •Vifdom and Knowledge of God ! Of whom, and 
 y whom, and to whom are all Things ; to whom 
 clongs Glory for ever !•« — And how know we but 
 hat tiie grand Afiairs of the Univerfe are all con- 
 !u61cd as wifely, as were thefe now in our View. 
 
 To Conclude, let thcfe four Remarks be ^-ell 
 attended to, and remembred. 
 
 I. That in all thefe Inftances of God's per- 
 vr/itting Sin, he had a View to the Manifeftation of 
 ^^imfelf. Tiiey gave him Opportuaitles to a6l out 
 iiis Heart ; and'fo to nie\M/what he was, and '-""^ 
 lie ftood ailcacd : and he intended by hisC. 
 
in the Pemijpon of Sv<^. 95 
 
 to fct hlmfelf, i. e. all hisPerfcaicns, in a fuiI, clear, 
 ftrong Point of Light : that it might be known that 
 he was the Lord^ and that the whole Eanh might 
 tj filled with his Glory. 
 
 2. And he intended to let his Creatures give a 
 true Specimen of themfelves : that it might bo 
 known what was in their Hearts. But 
 
 3. The Advantages of Acquaintance wit!i God 
 
 and ourrelves are innumerable. We can bene: 
 
 ther humble, holy, nor happy without it. b^j 
 
 that 
 
 4. It may ea(ify be feen, how that God in the 
 PermifTion of Sin* may defign to r.dvance his own 
 
 (jlory, and the Xjood of his Creatures. Aiv.l 
 
 that this was really God's Defign, in the InlUnc;;^ 
 which have bcafl under Confideraiion, is manifcil 
 from the five BEIcs of Mofes,|li vvhich the Hillor' 
 
 of thefc Thing* is recorded ^t large. -Partic . • 
 
 larly, I der4re tli^VIIIth, IXth, Xth, & Xlth Cha. ^ 
 ters of Deuteronomy may be read in this V^iew. 
 
 # #4^:^iJ######:^X##vi^^##^4^#^-? 
 
 #^^» #*##^###' :*^####^^af#^ 
 
 I3 SERMON 
 
( 9<J ) 
 
 The Wisdom of God 
 
 in the Permiflion of Sin. 
 
 s E R M o xsr, ir. 
 
 GeniESIS L. 2*i 
 
 -^—TE thought Evil again/} Me ; /vv/ God 
 vteant it unto Good— 
 
 WISDOM cc-nfifts in clioofing tlie beft End, . 
 and contriving the moil proper Mcatis to 
 attain it. 
 Th2 Mfssiah had been promifcd to our firft 
 Jr'arents, about Two Thoufand Years ago ; and the 
 appointed Time of his Advent was approaching : 
 Bvit the World were greatly imprcpared for luch an 
 £vcnt. They did not know, that they were in a fal- 
 len State, and that they needed a Redeemer and a 
 ^3n<5\ifier. They neither knew God, nor thcmfelycs 
 
 what ihcy were — nor wliat they ought to be ■ 
 Tor what they neeJcd to biing them right: and 
 were finking by fwift Degrees into Hill grofier Igno- 
 lance, and the moft fi upid Idolatry. And had God 
 fuffercd them all to have taken their own Courie, 
 uil the Messiah's Binh, Ignounce and De|iravify. 
 
 v^ouTa' 
 
The Wisdom #/ God^ Sec. p7 
 
 would have rifen to fuch a Height, as to have >en«> 
 dcred iMankind wholly unprepared for the Gof^^el- 
 Dirpenfation. 
 
 Wherefore God muft interpofe, and fome Me- 
 thod mui^ be taken to check the univcrfal Spread ot 
 Idolatry and Ignorance, and to revive the Know 
 Jcdgeof the true God, and of the Law of Nature -, 
 and to make Mankind fenfible of their Depravity, ot 
 their Guilt and 111- defert, and Need of a Rcdeemei' 
 and Sandtitier ; and fo prepare the Way for the- 
 Coining of Chrifl, and the Ercdiion of his fpiritual 
 Kinc:dom. 
 
 VViTH thcfc Views, about two Thoufand Years 
 before the Birth of the Messiah, God calledAbrani 
 from Urof rheChaldecs, :nj feparated him from aa 
 idolatrous World, and choie his Seed to be hisPeo- 
 ple ; that in his Dealings with them, he might bear 
 a publick TciHmony againfl Idolatry, in the Sight 
 ot all the Nations of the Earth ; and at the fame 
 Time exhibit a molt cxafl Pifture of himfeif in his 
 Condudl, and fet his Chara<5ler in the moft glaring, 
 ftriking, affecfmg Light ; that, ftupid as they were, 
 they Ihould be, as it were, forced to fee and under- 
 hand what he was. And, at the fame Time, he 
 would let them know, what they ought to be, and- 
 the Greatnefs of thcirObligations to the Deify j and 
 turn theirHearts infide out, that they might fee thei»:- 
 felves, and difcern their true Charader,. and lo feel 
 their Need ©fa Redeemer and Sani^itier. And then 
 lie would exhibit in Types and Shadows, i. e-bySa- 
 cntices of Atoncmcnt,and Purifications- forUnclean- 
 nefs, the Narure of the Atonement or Cl^rift, and 
 of the fantftifyi-ng InHaences of the ho'ySpirit. And 
 thus prepare iheWay for thcComii^i of thciVitniiii, 
 .lU)d-. the Erection of his fpir; .il '''iiirdf.m jn the 
 W'tjrld.: andthatnot on)) a-rj^^ng ^ ^. thus train- 
 ed gp., bsit ^Uq among Gentuc&i .vrhjj^ .ii aflci A t s, 
 
 -~ 1 4. lliQuid 
 
... . ^ f 
 
 98 The Wisdom of God 
 
 fhotiid be let into thefe divine Difpenfations and 
 Defjgns, and reap the Benefit of all thefe prepara- 
 tory and introdudory Steps. 
 
 Had Jofepknot been fold, and had Jacob conti- 
 nued tcWive in the Land of Canaan,\vith hisFamily, 
 :;nd had his Pofterity there gradually increafed, until 
 they had tilled al) the Land fthe Canaanites mean 
 vhile dying ofF, as the Indians have done in N. E. 
 thefe 130 Years paft) I fay, had his Pofterity gra- 
 dually increafed until they had filled all the Land, 
 without any uncommon Changes, or any extraordi- 
 nary Interpofitions of Providence, none of the fore- 
 mentioned Ends could have been anfwered. Yea, 
 there would apparently have been the utmoft Dan- 
 ger, that the Ifraelites would have been no better 
 than the Canaanites had been : and God might fore- 
 fee, that this vi'ould infallibly be the Cafe ; and fo 
 all his Ends in feparatlng Abraham and his Seed 
 wholly fruftrated. 
 
 On the other Hand, if Jofeph is fold ; if Jacob 
 and his Family move down and fettle in Egypt, the 
 chief Scat of Idolatry ; a proper Scene opens in the 
 View of infinite Wifdom, where all his Wonders 
 might be wrought : and fit Opportunities, he fore- 
 faw, would prelent, for the Accomplifhmcnt of all 
 the Purpofes of his Heart. / 
 
 Nothing further was needful, than for God « 
 not to hinder Jofeph's Brethren, and they would fell | 
 him— Not to hinder Potiphar'sWife, and fhe would | 
 get him caft intoPrifon j where he might be prepar- ; 
 cd for, and from whence he might be raifed to, the 
 higheft Advancement, by which many noble and 
 God-likeEnds might be a.ifwered. Nothing fur- 
 ther was needful, than for God not to hinder the 
 King of Egypt, and he would opprefs the Ilraeiites, 
 till they were prepared for their Egrcflion. — Not to 
 hinder Pharaoh, and he would harden hi$ Heart, 
 
in the PermiJJlon ^/*!5iN. ^^ 
 
 Snd refufc to let them go, until Egypt was filled 
 with the wonderful Works of God. — Yea, if God 
 hindered him not, into the Red-Sea he would drive 
 head- long, hurried on by ilie Corruptions of his 
 Heart; that, in his Dei^rucftion, God mig;ht fliew 
 liis Power, and caufe his Name to be declared thr6- 
 
 out all the Earth. And now the Hebrews, rcfcu- 
 
 ed tVom Pliaraoh's deilroving Sword by almiah' v 
 Power, would be in the Hands of God their Deli- 
 verer, to be difciplined, to be humbled and proved 
 and tried, that it might be known whatwasin their 
 Hearts ; and that, finally, they might be prepared 
 to enter t'he promifed Land, and execute the Ven- 
 geance of the Almighty on thofe idolatrous Nati 
 ens ; and be Gjd's peculiar People,till the Messi- 
 ah's Coming,and the Erc(5lion of lils fpiritualKinj.;!;- 
 dom. — I fay, be God's peculiar People, to receive 
 the Law from Sinai, to be under God's immediate 
 Government, to keep the holy Oracles, to preferve 
 the Predications of the MeiTiah, and to anfwer ip.any 
 other noble and divine Ends God had in View. 
 
 A Plan, in which fo much Sin was to ht per- 
 mitted, and fo much Tvlifer]!^ endured, might, by 
 fliort' lighted Mortal*, have been thoueht dilhoiiour- 
 able to God, and unhappy for the liVaelites ; bii.. 
 undt-r the Management of infinite Wifdom, it 
 proves the diredl contrary. Yea, for aught that 
 appears, God could not have taken a better MetlK:.-!, 
 as Things then fVood in the World, to 'm.ake him- 
 felf known, and get Honour to his great Name, and 
 inake the Ifra^lites fenfible of their Dcpendance 
 -upon him, and Oblir^ations to hirn, and engage 
 
 'em to perpetual Obedience, than that. As it is 
 ritten, " What could have been done more to 
 my Vineyard, that I have not done in it ?" 
 Yea, It was a Plan not only fuited to be bene- 
 
 liCiaHn that Age j but in all fucceedin^Geneiations: 
 
 and 
 
?oo %he Wisdom cf God 
 
 and that in more InHsnces than can well be enu- 
 merated. Particularly, it has furnilhed us with a 
 History of the Deity, and with a History of 
 HITMAN Natuk2 : Such aHlilory as is indeed of 
 jnfinire Value. For every Thing is exemplified in 
 -ACTS, by which, the 'Mind Is infiructcd moKe 
 ■::e3rly, and the Heart reached more cffcdually, 
 than in any other VVay. 
 
 The in^ilible God, whom no Eye hath fccn, or 
 
 can fee, and of whom it is fo drHwi-lt for us 'in 
 
 thi3 benighted World to frame jull Conceptions, 
 
 ^3 brouglir upomhe Stage ; and he a^Trs out his Na- 
 
 ure before our Eyrs, with a Defign to let histiue 
 
 Character in a clear and flrik-ing Li£:ht. -Here 
 
 ve , fee, as it were with our Eye^, how he fore- 
 ordairied whatfoever came to pal-s ; how he laid out 
 the whole Pjan, from the felling of Jofeph to \\\b 
 Advancement, and to Jacob's going down into 
 Egypt i and how they Pnould be opprctTed and bro't 
 ;iito Bondp^e, and how they (liould tinaliy be 
 •I'ought forth, and led in the Wildernefs, and pr«- 
 i ar^d ioY Canaan, &c. And we fee tixe Wifdom, 
 
 vjlory and Beauty oijffk Plan, Here we fee v^hat 
 
 J. Reg aril he has for nis own Honour, and how his 
 whole Plan is fuited to fet him in that intinitely ho- 
 nourable Point of Light, which fo exaclly becomes 
 iVim, as he is by Narure God, and by original Right 
 ilie fupreme Lord 2nd Governor of the World. — 
 ijere we fee hia -Refolution to maintain his Autho- 
 f)S in his Conduct to Phar^oli, that haughty Re- 
 bel,, who bid iiim Defiance, and ffoutly ref«fed to 
 
 kt Ifrael go. Here we fee his fovereiL^r> Grace 
 
 and felf-movjng Goodnefs, as it were, forcing the 
 infatuated Ifraelites from their beloved Egypt, arid 
 their beloved Idols : and when he had tlie highcR 
 l^rovocaiions to dertroy them, hov. he wrought tor 
 his great Narac's fake, ,uiitil he bad . prepared 
 
;,v ths PermiJJion of ^m. TCI 
 
 them for, rnd brought them in to the promifed 
 
 Land. And hoA', in the mean Time, he kt 
 
 his Hatred of their Sins in the cleared and rtron- 
 gcftLight i commaadingthc Earth to open >'s Mouth 
 and iwallow up Hundreds, am! the Piague to go 
 forth, trom Time to Time, and cut down Thoufands 
 in a Moment, yea, dooming that whole Generation 
 to wander. and fail in rheWildcrncfs fortheirCrimes, 
 
 rcferving the good Land for their Polleniy. 
 
 Here we fee him exercifmg his Sovereignty, when 
 the liVaelitcs and the Egyptians both defcrved Dc- 
 ftru6tion, and to have been buried ahve in the Red- 
 Sea together; he had Mercy on whom he would 
 have Mercy, axid whom lie would, he give up tc 
 Hardnefs of Heart, and to Ruin. Aiul after the 
 Ifraelites had been in the "VV^iidernefs above a Year, 
 and had fuffici-.^ntly (hewn what they v;crc, and car- 
 ried their Provocations io high, that divme'Jt«p^ce 
 faid, '^ Let me aione, that 1 may deftroy them itl % 
 *' Moment," ftill he wrought for his great Name's 
 fake : and had Mercy on them, becaul'c he would 
 have Mercy on tljem, and vus gracious to thsic, 
 bccauCe he would be graciof^o tliem : i. c. froun 
 
 
 his fell-moving Goodnefs andTovertign Grace.* — 
 
 And 
 Exod. XXXIII. 39. Num, XIV. From thcfc Difpcnfa- 
 tions, which were acknowledged to be right by the Jews, 
 St. Paul was able to juilify the dirine Conduft in his 
 Day, in cafting off the Jews, and calling the Gentiles.' 
 Jicm, IX. *' If God had a Plight to give up Pharach to 
 ** Hardnefs of Heart and to Deftruc^ien in the Dajs of 
 ** rolu, as ye Jews own ; why not you row .^—If the 
 ** Excrcifcs of God's Grace were fovereign then, to 
 " your Fathers, who dcferved,God being Judge, to be all 
 *• confumcd in a Moment ; why may not the Gentiles, 
 •' Dotwithftanding their ill Dcicits, be now called and 
 '* r^vcd, fiom the fame fovcreioo Grace ? God ufcd r© 
 ' ;.tl as A Sovereign ; why mav ;■; not ftiU \ And if :.i 
 
I05 Tht Vw'SDOM of Gdd 
 
 And by all, we^e, tint not anyThing, whatfoever, 
 is able to iruftr^'te God's Dcfigns, or hinder the 
 faithful Accomplifnment of h^s Promil'c toAbrahairi, 
 1'hut to his Seed he would give theLand of Canaan. 
 At the lame Time, we have human Nature 
 brought upon the Stage, and Experiments made up- 
 on the Heart of Man, in a great Variety ; whereby 
 its true 'I'emperis as certainly determined, as w^s 
 ever the Nature of any Thing in thenaturalWorid, 
 by the great Sir Ifaac Newton. * 
 
 So 
 
 ^* oocInflaTice ; why not in another, altogether fimilflr ?" 
 Nor could the Jew falHy evade the Force of ihls Reafon- 
 ing. — And if we Qiould only mppcfc, that Pharaob, after 
 he was drowned, went to Hdl, and that the unbelieving 
 Jews of that Age, who were caft off by God for their 
 Infidelity, were eternally loll, then we have the Doflrinc 
 of Reprobation, which has been fo mnch mifundcrdood 
 and mifreprercnted, exemplified in Facts. For, what- 
 foever God does in Time, That, He from all Eternity, 
 irjtended to do. — Yea, and that, vj^iich is right for God 
 to do in Time, He Hai^ a Right frofff Eternity to dctcr- 
 minc to do. — Yea, if %od, in Fact, governs the World 
 WM-L, then he did well to determine to govern it as 
 he does, — ReafonableCrcatures would ncrer ol)je<5tagainfl 
 God's laying out a univerfai Plan, if the Plan did but 
 fuit their Taile. 
 
 * Objection. " B'Jt it can nex'cr be fuppofed, that the 
 " true Chara(5ter of human Nature, in general, can be 
 " decided. from the pervelfe Condud ot the ifraclilcr. in 
 " the Wildcrncfs." 
 
 Answer. Was not their Conduvfl, then, of a .FlcfC 
 vith the general Tenor of thcirCondaft, from that Time . 
 and forv/ard, for fifteen Hundred Years, when they f\e>if ., 
 fchcir Prophets, yea, and crucified the Son of God ? A<^\.i 
 
 va. SI, ;2. 
 
iH the PcrmiJJlon 'of Si)^. Idj 
 
 ,So that, on thcfe,as well as man^ther Accounts, 
 that Plan was not only for the HoJ|prof God, at^d 
 Good of the Ifraelitfs ; but for the jBeneht ot Man- 
 kind in a", fucceeding Generations. 
 
 And how know we but that it was deHgned by 
 the inhnitely wife God, as a little Kind of Picture, 
 in which wc might fee, in Miniature, the Nature 
 of God's Government of the whole moril Syltcm, 
 and the Reafons of his permitting Sin and Mifery to 
 
 enter into the World he had maJc ? Waich 
 
 brings me — 
 
 Secondly, After having viewed the Wifdora 
 of God in the Permiflion of Sir>, in various plain 
 Inllances, to proceed humbly to fearch into the Wi^^ 
 dom of God, in Ever permitting Sin and Mifery t® 
 enter into World. And 
 
 I. As all God's Works are uniform, fo we may 
 juftly argue from the WifJom and Beauty oi particu- 
 lar Parts, to the Wjfdom and Beauty of the Whole. 
 As God's Nature is always the fam«, and as he al- 
 K ways 
 
 Obj. " If it was ; yet it is cot to be fuppofed, that 
 •* ©very Nation would have been fo wicked and pervcrfe,. 
 •• as the Jews were, ifuodef like Circumlhncea." 
 Aks. But it is the common Ckaracfler of an apoflate fallea 
 World, that they are *' dead in Sia." Eph. II. i, 2, 3« 
 Obj. *' These Words were fpoken of the Gentiles, ani 
 
 " fo are nothing to the Purpofe." 
 Axs. Seeing then (according to thefe Men) the Charac- 
 ter of Mankind cant be Icara'd froiH what is faid iii 
 the old ©1- new Tcdiment, of Jews, or Gentiles ; bu- 
 we, in tiiis Age and Natien, ar« quite another Kind cf 
 Creaturt-i, fo bencvolcBt, fo goad, fjvirtv.;ou3 ; nicthinki" 
 the Old and New Ttrtrtmenis are Writings not fitted »o 
 cnr Csfc ; as they arc not adapted to Men of our Cha- 
 ra<5ler. And perhaps this is one J^cafon, thcfa ancient 
 Writings arc in fo \o^ Credit vruh aiany in Uic Briddi 
 
 -;.s:^ aod PUtQ bc§i<^ to kc more a4a;irti 
 
 '•.%] or St Paul. 
 
104 ^^ WisDoxr of G9d 
 
 ways a6lslike {umfelf; fo therefore his Works are 
 aJ. ways harmonious and confiftent. So that if we can 
 fee tl\c Wifdom of God in the Permiflion of Sin in 
 fome Inftances, ^^e may juftly argue to his Wifdom 
 in his whole grandScheme. — Yea, and from theWif- 
 dom, Glory andBeauty of particularParts,wc may be 
 rationally convinced, that God's grand Scheme is 
 perfect in Wifdom, Glory and Beauty, altho' it be 
 fo incomprehenfibly great, as to confound our Un- 
 derftandings. If we certainly know that God's 
 IVorks arc all uniform, and if there is one fmall 
 Part that we can underftand and comprehend, and 
 if we fee this is perfedly wife, we may be afTured the 
 whole is fo too ; altho' when we try to look into it, 
 wc feel ourMinds quite overwheimed with its incom- 
 prehenfible Grcatnefs. 
 
 2. Yea, were there .no particular Inftance, in 
 which we could fee the Vv^'fdom ofGod in the Per- 
 miflion of Sin, yet from the Perfe6\ions of the divine 
 Nature alone, we have fuch full Evidence, that He 
 muft always ad in the wifeli and beftManner,as that 
 wc oun;ht not in the leafc to doubt it. 
 
 In the Dsys of Eternity, long before theFounda- 
 tion of the World, this Syftcm now inExi{lencc,and 
 this Plan which now takes place, and all other pof- 
 fible Sy[\ems, and all other poflible Plans, more in 
 Number perhaps than the very Sands on the Sea 
 Shore,all/qually lay open to the divincView,and one 
 2s eafyt'o Almightinefs as another. He had his 
 Choice .- He had none to plcafc, but himfelf : bc- 
 fides him there was no Being : He had a perfcaiy 
 good Tafte, and nothing to bias his Judgment, and 
 was infinite in Wifdom : this he chofe : and this., 
 of all poflible Syftems, therefore, was the befl, infi- 
 nite Wifdom and pcrfed Reaitude being Judges, If 
 therefore the Whole were as abfolutely incompre-'^ 
 hcufiblc by us, as it is by Children of four Yw-rs 
 
 C-d> 
 
t/1 th PermiJJlsn of Sm, 1 cy 
 
 old, yet we ought firmly to believe the whole to be 
 pcrfecft inWifdom, Glory and Beauty. 
 
 3. But if all God's Works are uniform, as has 
 been faid, we may not only argue from the Wifdom 
 of particular Parts, to the Wifdom of the Whole •, 
 but alfo tiom the fpecial Nature of particular 
 Parts, to the fpecial Nature of the Whole ; and io 
 from a right Idea of particular Parts, which we are 
 ubie to eomprefcend, we may have fome right Con- 
 ceptions of theWhole,aItho' the Whole is too greats 
 for our Ccmprehenfion. And fo here is aClue,v.'hich 
 will lead us into a right View of the true Nature of 
 the whole moral SyOem, and help us, at lejili, to 
 feme partial View of the V/ifdom, GJory and Beau- 
 ty of the Whole. 
 
 4. And indt-ed, it feims to liavc been God's D:- 
 fign, in this State of Inftrudtion and Difcipline,, 
 where we tirtl come into Exiftence, and, from fma!l 
 Beginnings, are to grow up to a more full Know- 
 ledge of Ciod and liiiight iiUo his moral Govern- 
 meiit of the World, the Contcrrplation of which 
 vill afford the moll intenfe Delight to all holy Be- 
 ings, throughout eteina.1 Ages; I fay, it feems to 
 have been God*s Dcfign, to fuit Things to the pre- 
 fent V/eakncfs of our Capacities, by reprefcntino^ 
 the general Nature of the whole inotal Syllem in 
 fome ielect Parts of it, giving us a Kind cf a Pic- 
 ture of the Whole in Miniature, to lead us to 
 fome right Notions of the Naturt of the Whole. 
 
 'Tis certain, that, as all God's Woiks are uni- 
 form, amidll all their infinite Variety, fo it has bccvi 
 his Method, in his lelferWorks- in the iraralWorld, 
 defignedly to give a f«int Image of his greater, anfl 
 hereby prepare the ^Vay for their being the morj 
 eaGly underilood. So the Redemption cf IfraeJ out 
 of Kgypt was dcfigncd as a Shadow of our fpiritudl 
 ilcdcaiptioa by Chrift : and the Deliverance of t! . 
 K 2 T. 
 
f6 The WiCDOM 0f God 
 
 Jews cut of Babylon was deHgned as a Refemblance 
 or the De;ivcr«ncc of the ChrilUan Church out of 
 myftica! Bsbylon. And there are almof^ innume- 
 rable Infianccs of the hkc Nature in Scripture. Yea, 
 the whole JewilliDifpenfation was evidently dcfigned 
 ^o be emblematical. So indeed was every Thing 
 n the natural World, from which Metaphors and 
 Alluf^ons are confiantly brought by Chril\ and his 
 Apoftles, to reprelent and ilhiftrutc fpiritual and di- 
 vne Things ; z% well as from the Jewifli Difpcn- 
 
 And indeed tb.is was Workman-! ike, and becom- 
 ing the infinite Wifdom of the great Contriver 
 and Former of all Tilings, to whom all his Works 
 wer^^nown from the Beginning, and who dcfigned 
 trJs Ibwer World, as th? grand Stage of AcTtion for 
 r.}oral Agents, i'o to c^der Things in all his Works, 
 and in ail his Difpenfations, as that one Thing 
 fncu'd give Ivight to another ; Things in the natu- 
 ral World, toThings in the moral ; Things in the 
 Jewifti Difpcnfation, to Things in theChriHian. 
 
 It would, therefore, be perfccflly analogous to 
 he reft of God's Works, if he had defigned fomc 
 eminent Parts of his grand Plan of moral Govern- 
 ment to contain in Miniature the Nature of the 
 Wliole, and contrived them to rcpreftnt, and fuited 
 hem to point out to us the Wifdom and Beauty of 
 is grand and glorious Shcme, which is too large 
 ;or cyr pr«fent Comprchenfion ; and too difficult 
 :) be undcrnood,but by the Help of little Pictures, 
 where the Whole is contained in Miniature. 
 
 5. Yea, V/e may venture to affirm, that of Ne- 
 cefTity it muft be the Cafe, that the Nature of the 
 ^arts will certainly fhcw the Nature of the Whole, 
 m a moral S)ftem, under the Government of him 
 who is the fame Ycfterday, to Day, and forever. 
 For, while he conftantly aclshke himfelf, his whole 
 
 Condua 
 
/;/ ths PermiJJtcn of Si^» 1 07 
 
 Condu(51 will be of a Piece, always like itfelf ; and 
 fo one Part of it wilJ ilJuftrate theNatiire of another : 
 and fo from tht Knowledge of the Nature of various 
 Parts, we may certainly argue to the Nature of the 
 Whole. As, let us but dihgently obferve a wife and 
 good Man, who is unifcrm and fteady in his Ways j 
 and from repeated Intlances of his CondudV, we 
 Ihall enter into the Knowledge of his Temper in 
 general, and perceive the V^iews and Defigns which 
 govern him. So let us but attend to the dif ine Con- 
 duel, as recorded n\ that Book, which may juftly be 
 denominated \.\\\, Hiliory of the Deity, and enter 
 into his V^iews and Defigns, in particular Inftanccs 
 of his Condu6t,as there intimated ; and we may witli 
 fufficicnt Certainty determine his moral Charadv r, 
 and the general Nature andDeiign of his wholePlan. 
 
 Shew me, therefore, his Views and Def.gns in 
 fuftcring Jofcpli to be fold, Ifrael to be opprefftd, 
 Pharaoh to harden his Heart, Ifrael to murmu'- ^nd 
 rebel and fail in the Wiidernefs ; end let me into 
 the WifJom of his Condudf, in th(.fj particul-.u* 
 Parts of his grand Scheme ; and then afTure me 
 that the whole Syflem is governed by the fame in- 
 finitely wife Being ; and how can I doubt the Wif- 
 dom of the Whole, while I behold the Wifdom of 
 thefe particular Parts ? Or how can I be at a T.ois 
 far the general Nature of the Whole, while 1 be- 
 hold the Nature of thefe particular Parts, and firmly 
 believe that God always acls like himfclf, and keeps 
 up a conQant Uniformity thro* all the inlinite Va- 
 rieties of Cif(s and Circumdances, that ever occur 
 in his moral Government of the Wor'rl ? 
 
 6. If, therefore, 'hePlan wh'ch infin ttWifdom con- 
 trived to brin*; Jacob's Family into Eeypt.. and from 
 thence thro' the Red- Sea andWildcrne s into Cana- 
 an, in which fo much Sin was pcrmitlbd, and fo 
 much Mifery endured, was, all Things confide red, 
 K 3 ih^ 
 
ic'J Tl:t'- Wisdom of Gii 
 
 ^he wlfeft and bed ; as being fo exa(5\ly fultcd to ftt 
 
 H thij Pcrrc'vfrions of God in the fullefl and ftrongeft 
 
 i'oint of Lig]it,and at the fameTime tounmafk their 
 
 Msart?,aiid fet their abfolute Dependence on God, 
 
 Mjd great Obhgarions to him, and the infinite Evil 
 
 f Sin, in fuch a Light, as had the moi^ powerfiil 
 
 tendency to induce them, with penitent, humble, 
 
 urokcn Hearts, in an entire Self-dlflidence, to put 
 
 their Trull: only in God, and be wholly devoted to 
 
 •-im, to h\r him, and lov« hira, and walk in all his 
 
 .•/ay5,anc'keep all hisCommands', fetkinghis Glory: 
 
 i fay, if that Plan was the wifeft>..that could have 
 
 been' contrived to anfvver thefe Ends ; and fo the 
 
 cil: fuited to-promote the Glory of God, and the 
 
 ell: Good of the Ifraelites ; and -to anfwer many 
 
 oble iCnds in that Age, and in all fiicceedingGc- 
 
 cTutions : — Such, no Doubt, mufi be the V/hole ot 
 
 >jd's mord Government of the World ; in which 
 
 ■nmenrfly great Plan, fo much Sin is permitted, and 
 
 J much iVIifcry endured, i. e. It mull: be the bell 
 
 vontrived Sclieme poflible, to advance the Glory 
 
 tA (jod, and tlie bed Good of the moral Syflem. 
 
 I AM f:.riff;ble, there are many Objections} which 
 
 \^iil be apt to a/il'e in tlie Reader's Mind, and which 
 
 lire capable of being put into a veryplaufible Drefs, 
 
 nd which, at lirH: Sight, may fee m to appear quite 
 
 ^r.nn.Vcrable. Nor am I unwilling they ihould be 
 
 fct in their lirongtfl: Light. 'Tis bell to Icok on 
 
 all Sides, and that with the utmofl Care and Im- 
 
 purri.dity. And every hcnefiReader, who fincerely 
 
 efircs to knov/ the Tiuth, to underfland the P«.ea- 
 
 ■155 of the divine Ccn('u<51:, and to fee the W.ifdom, 
 
 \>'ory and Beauty of his univevfal Plan, will be na- 
 
 iiraUy x\{^^ok<\ «o lo( k up to f-Icaven, and (ay, *' O 
 
 " thouFatlici cf Li^Ji Sj thcu iountain of all iCno w- 
 
 ' ' icdi^e, fenilLk thai v/e ]ackWifdom,^nd cncoiii a^;- 
 
 ■ ttlby thy jrv-cjous iiiviiation, we ccr;;etoll . ' 
 
 <*, 
 
in the Permijjlon of Zi)^. tcj 
 
 «« who give t liberally to all that afic, nor upbraicleff-, 
 " nor denied the moft unworthy, who aficinths* 
 <* Name or' Chriit— Open thou our Eyes, that we 
 •' may fte the AVifdoin of thy Government, and 
 " behold the Beauty of thy Conduft, that we may 
 " not onlyjullify th> Ways to Men ; but fti'], more 
 ** than ever, love znd fear that fearful and glorious 
 *' Name or thine, The Lord our God !"-I — For, 
 there is not one Point, in natural or revca'ed Reli- 
 gion, attended with fo great Diificu'ties as This, 
 Therefore we greatly need to haTeourKearts purified, 
 and ourMmds enlightened by divineGrace*, thar,witli 
 a jood TaAe, and an unbiafs'd Judgmeni:, we may 
 fearch into the hidden Myileries of God's ^reat and 
 cteriul Kingdom. 
 
 — — The Objections are as fol'ovv 
 
 1. '^ How couid it be for the Honour of the L: ■ 
 " preme Lord and Governor of the Uni^erfe, to 
 " fuffer Satan, his Enemy, by his Lies, to deceive, 
 *' fcduce and perfuade innocer tMan to jrebel again'l 
 " his facred IVIijcihsand fubject hin)felf and ai' is 
 *' Race to Death and RuiK ?" 
 
 2. " Flow could it be to the bcfl Good of the 
 " i\ioral Syllem, that this lower World, inilcad of 
 '" being inhabited by a Race of iricarnato Angeis, 
 *' ever celebrating r!ie Praifes of their greatCreator, 
 '' perfedly happy in hislmage «5c Favour,lhould fmk 
 ** down into fo near a Refcmblance to Heil,inWick • 
 " ednafs and Woe? O how infinitely better would 
 " if have l?een,if inStead of o;n antlMi/ery iiere aid 
 *' eternal Pains of Hell hereafter, to be iuffered by 
 " fuch innumerable Multitudes, uli hud been for 
 " evr»* holy and happy !" 
 
 - How can it be made to appeir,:.iJrat Sin and 
 
 iffc;ry were at all needful*, much Jefs 'Mbfo.'utely 
 
 ccTr<ry, in a Syftem ofigir-TiMy ho.'y and happy, 
 
 :,...r any valua}>le EtK.. >. not be 
 
 K 4 '' ui 
 
 J- 
 
I TO The WiJDOM ef God 
 
 " tolim'tthc holy One of Ifrae], to fsy, That he 
 ** could tind out no other Way, fo good as this, to 
 *' exalt God, and rendertheSyftem holy and happy V 
 
 4. " If God wills Sin, then it feems. Sin is agree- 
 " able to his Will : And if fiom all Eternity hede- 
 *< creed the Mifcry of his Crea^ures, then it feems 
 ** their Mifery fuits him. Both which, as is grant- 
 " ed on all Hands, are diredly contrary to Reafon 
 " and to Scripture." 
 
 Before we attempt a dirca Anfwer tothefeOb- 
 jecfrions, let three or four Things be premifed. 
 
 I. Be it fo, that God's permitting Sin and Mifery 
 to enter into the World, appears to us ever fo dark ; 
 yet this is no Argument at all againft the Wifdom, 
 Glory and Beauty of the divine Condud in this Af- 
 fair, f'cr, there have been Inftancesof the divine 
 Condu(f>,in allAppearance dark toPerfc(ftion,vhich, 
 in the Refult, have proved perfect in Wifdom and 
 Beauty. When Jacob faw his Son's Coat all ftained 
 with Blood, he had nothing but Darknefs andDeath 
 before his iEyes. ** An evil Beaft, faid he, hath 
 " devoured him : Jofeph is without doubt rent in 
 *' Pieces." Wherefore he '' rent his Cloaths, and 
 " put on Sackcloth, and mourned for his Son, and 
 " refufed to be comforted." Nor had he the leaft 
 G'eam of Light, for above 20 Years, in this dark 
 Affair. Yea, it grew darker, when Simeon was 'left 
 bound in Egjpt, never to be releafed, unleft Tkrija- 
 min went alfo. " Jofeph is not," fays he, '' -^vA 
 *' Simern is not ! And yc will take Benjamin a;\ay ! 
 '* All thefe Things are againd me."— So lie fpakc, 
 
 and fo he thought ; for fo Things appeared. • 
 
 But yet afterwards he viewed the whole Plan in a 
 very difftrcnt Light, as being contrived and brought 
 about by infinite Wifdom and Grodnefs. A:^d 
 doubtlefs he was ready to fay, *' Never let n , i 
 
hi the PermjJJJon of Sv^, 1 1 
 
 «' poor (hort^fighted Creature, venture again to call 
 «' in Q^ieftion ifie Wifdom of" the fuprcme Govcr- 
 '' nor of the World, all whofe Ways are perfecl. 
 «' Remember it, O my Soul, from this Time for- 
 *' wurd. And for the furure,let me learn to do my 
 *' Duiy,and chearfully leaveGodto order allTh"ng$ 
 *' as he pleafes : hrmly believing all his Conda(51 to 
 " be wife, whether I can fee thro' it, or no." 
 
 And how dark toMofes,fled into theLand of Mi- 
 dian lo fave his Life^ mul"l the divine Conduift ap- 
 pear, in fuffering his Breiircn, the Children of Ifrael 
 to be fo cruelly ufed by Pharaoh? Nor had he the leaft 
 Gleam of L ght, in this dirk Afti'.r, for forty Years. 
 Yetit afrerwarvls appeared ro betull of the wonderful 
 Wifdom of God, as we have before obfcived. And 
 nodcubt, Mofcs faw it, to his abundant SatisfacTiion. 
 
 But as for the Inhabitants of Egypt, when they 
 Jieard that Pharaoh, their grand Monarch, and all 
 
 liis Hofts were drowned in t'.c Red Sea And as 
 
 for the Ifraelites, whofe Carcafes were doom'd to 
 fall in the Wildernefs — thefe Difpeniations were to 
 them fo dark, and they in fuch a Temper, that 
 it was near or quite impoflible, they (houid fee the 
 Wifdom of God in them. — Nor was it itrancre, they 
 could not fee. But this leads me to add, 
 
 2. That it is not at all ftrange, that God's Con- 
 duel in the PermifHon of Sin fhou'J appear ex- 
 ceeding dark to us, how v^ife, glorious and beautiful 
 
 foever it is in itfelf, and in the Eyes of God 
 
 (i.)BecaufeourViewsof God's grandPlan are fo very 
 impertecl. When God has finifned his ScUemc,all 
 holy Beings will eafily fee the Beauty of it. For 
 then it will appear, what he had in View, and how 
 wifely every T hing was ordered to anfwer the no- 
 bleif and bed Ends. It was eafy, whc» Jacob be- 
 neid Jofeph Governor over all the Land of E^ypt, 
 for him to fee thro' an AfFmr, which before, ?or a 
 
 lonor/ 
 
m 7'hs Wisdom of Gtd 
 
 Jong Courfe of Years, had been abfolutely inexpli- 
 cable. B£iides--(2.) It is not ftrange, that God's 
 prcfent PJan of Government appears fo dark to us, 
 however divine and glorious it is in it felf, confidcr- 
 ing how ill a Taile we have. It is not to be expe6t- 
 cd, that fallen Creatures, greatly alienated from the 
 Deity, and of a Temper quite contrary to his, (bould 
 befuited with his Plans of Government. Jf wicked 
 Men are Enemies to God, and Enemies to his Law, 
 as the Scriptures teach ; *(hey are pj^t in a Capacity 
 to difcern the Beauty of a Plan all over divine, li 
 was not ftrange, that the Egyptians could not fee \\\i 
 Wi dom of God in the Ovcrihrow of Pharaoii and 
 his Hofls. Nor was it ihangc, that the wicked If- 
 raelite. were fo far from feeing the Wifdom of God 
 in dooming their Carcafes to fall in the Wildernef?, 
 that they were rather difpofcd to blafpheme his 
 Name. Yea, they began their Blafphcmy before 
 tfccy received rhcir Doom. And when they might 
 have gone right on to Canaan, had it not been iheir 
 cwn Fault, they began to fay, tl^at God had brought 
 them out of Egypt on Purpofe to deilroy them, f 
 Jufl as Tome defperatc Sinners, who are deaf to all 
 tiiC C?.lls of the Gofpel, and refufe to march for the 
 
 eavenly Canaan, fometimes in Fiis of Horroi', 
 .lie ready to think, that God made them on Purpofe 
 TO damn them. It is eafy for us to fee the Unrca.- 
 
 n^bknefs and Perverlenefs of the Childrtn of 
 ..rael,and impenitent, obiiinate Sinners are evident- 
 ly quite as much to Blame ; but you cannot make 
 them fee it ; nor cqu'd iVlofes make the ifri elites fee 
 it in theirCafe. Nob is it to be expected, tliat Crea- 
 tures, fo far funk into Depravity and Guilt, will be 
 difpofcd lojuitify God ar^d his VVa)s, aitho' all his 
 DifpcnfatioiiS are ever fj wife and jull. But tlicn 
 thcirDiihke to the divine Government, be it ever fo 
 
 great, 
 
 * Rom. YIII. 7. t Num. XIV. 
 
tH the PeriifiJJion af Si^i, 1 13 
 
 grcjt, is no Sign but that it is psrfecflly wife, haly, 
 jud and good. Moles thought not the Jeis honour- 
 ably ofGod's Condu6l in theOvcithro/v of Pharaoh, 
 becaufe it looked fo dark to the Egyptians. Nor 
 do the Inhabitants of Heaven think the lefs honour- 
 ably of God's Condud in thePermifTion andPunifh- 
 ment of Sin in general, becaufe it looks fo dark to 
 obftinate Sinners. — God has given us an Inflance — 
 Adout 168 Years before the Babylonifli Capti- 
 vity, after tha Ifraclitcs had been in the promifed 
 Land 693 Years, and by tlieir Perv'crfenefs had 
 wearied out God's Patience, fo that CJod was pro- 
 voked to give them up to their Hearts Lufts, Ifaiah 
 was fent with this awful Mefla^c to them, *' Go 
 and tell this People, Hear ye indeed ; but under- 
 fland not : fee ye indeed ; but perceive net : 
 make the Heart of this People fat, and raaks 
 their Ears heavy, and fliut their Eyes" he. 
 Then faid 1, Lord, how Jong ? And he anfwered. 
 Until the Cities be wafted,' without Inhabitant, 
 and the Houfcs without Alan, and the Land be 
 utterly defolate." f Than which nothing could 
 look more dark to the guilty Jews, thus doomed to 
 Deftruaion. Yet, to the Inhabitants of Heaven, 
 God's CondwL^, in all this, appeared to be unutter- 
 ably glorious. So that upon the Occafion they 
 eren " cried," as under the deepeft ImprcITions, 
 «* Holy, Holy, Holy'is the Lord of Hofts, the whole 
 " Earth is full of his Glory."t So again in the 
 nineteenth Chapter of the Revelation, we have the 
 h«avenly Hofts rcprefented as in the higheft Ex^^acy 
 of Joy, on Occafion of the Deftruilion of myftical 
 Babylon ; which, yet, no doubt, when it comes to 
 pafs, will appear inexpreflibly dark, and glorious to 
 the Pope, and his Parry ; altho' the Poor perfecuted 
 Saints in Popifh Countries will be ready to join the 
 heavenly Hofts in their Songs of Praife. Yea, 
 t ^^^' VL 3. WauK 
 
1 14 ^^-^ Wisdom $f God 
 
 3. When I think over former Difpenfations of 
 Providence,— Jofeph's Affair, and ijow dark it ap- 
 peared to Jacob — ihe Cafe of the Ifriaehtes in fore 
 Bondage in bgypt, and how dark it appeared to 
 Mof«sfled intoMidian — And that thisJacoi»,and this 
 h'lofesj, were the befl of Men, and the P'avourites 
 of Heaven ; and yet the divine Condu<^ to them 
 ■was abfolutely unaccountable — And as I lock along 
 thro' the Bible, I can think of other Inftances of the 
 like Nature, one after anotlier, till I come to the 
 Crucifixion of Chrii\ ; the moft horrid S)n,that ever 
 v/as committed : an Affair exceeding dark to tlie 
 Difciples, the beit of Men then in the World, 
 and who were even ready. Things looked fo dark, 
 lo give up all Hopes of his being the MefTiah : I 
 f ly, vrhen 1 confidcr tiiefe, 1 cannot bjt conclude, 
 that if the moft holy and knowing Men on Earth 
 were entirely unable to folvc the forementioned 
 Difficulties, relative to the Permilfion of Sin, yet it 
 %\«uld be no juft Inducement to doubt of tke di- 
 ■ ine Wifdom. Yea, 
 
 4. However dark the Affair appears, or how- 
 ever unanfwerable the Objections may feem to be, 
 -yet we have ftriaDemonhrationjthat, of ail pofTiblc 
 ^lans, this is the belf. For, before the Foundation 
 of tlie World, it v.as at God's Eleaion, to create, 
 cr not to create : A:.d of all pofTibleSyfteins, he had 
 i is Choice : nor v^as there any Thing to byafs his 
 Judemeni : nor was it poCibie he ihould make a 
 Miffake : all Things v.ere open and naked before 
 him : he knew which was thf beft : and he chofc 
 t\\\% : and therefore, tliis, to him appeared prefer- 
 able to any other : and ■ therefore it was rca'.iy t;.€ 
 
 bcft. 
 
 And v<;hat then if we are not able fully to fo^'e 
 • he DilHculTies ? Is it not altogether reafonabie to- 
 conclude thaS it is owing to our not kei'' 
 
in the Permrjjton ef Si:<:» lif 
 
 whole Plan, or to our Want of a good TaRc, or 
 both ? It is certain, that we are very tar from a t\i!l 
 View of the whole Plan. We came into Exiflcnce, 
 as it were, but yeilerday. We are juit emerging 
 outofNon-entity. We rfill border onNon-exiftcnce. 
 We are but half awake, if To much. Wiien we en- 
 ter into the eternal World, if this fhort Period is 
 well fpent, wc may hope to have our intellectual 
 Powers quite awakf, and to be in a better Capacity * 
 to fearch into the Nature, and difccrn the Beauties 
 of God's eternal Kingdom.-— And befides the Nar- 
 rownefs of our prefent Views, our Taf^c too, is at * 
 prefent much vitiated. The bell: of Alen in thi» 
 World, are far from that highRelilh for moralBeau- 
 ty, which is needful to render them goo 1 Judges,oii 
 a Plan fo altogether holy and divine, as this mult 
 certainly be. And while we are are confcious to our 
 felves, that, with Peter, we are apt to " favour,not 
 " the Things which be of God ; but the Things 
 " which be of Men :" and that ourMinds lie under 
 many ByaiTes and Prejudices ; too ftrongly attached 
 to our private Interell:, but little concerned for the 
 Honour of the divine Majellj, or for tlie Honour of 
 his Government, and the Welfare of his everlafting 
 
 Kingdom, little caring for any Thing, farther 
 
 than our own Intereft is concerned, l^oo much 
 
 like the Ifraelites in theWildernefs,who were always 
 murmuring againlf God and againll Mofes ; alth'o* 
 God was all the while taking the wileft Methods 
 with them, and Mofes was faithful to him that ap- 
 pointed him : but if their Appetites andDefires were 
 croiled, and they dilappolnted in their narrow feUiih 
 Schemes, they could fee no Beauty in God's Con- 
 du6t, nor Glory in his grand Defigns ; but wilhed 
 themfelves back again to Egypt : not caring what 
 became of the Honour of God's great Name, and 
 quite ftupid to all the noble EndsGod ha<4 in View, 
 
1 1 6 TJi€ Wisdom of God 
 
 in their Separation from the Reft of the World, to 
 be his pecuHar People : 1 fay, while we are con- 
 scious to this Low- fpiritcdners, to this mean, narrow, 
 citiih Temper, and feci our fclves fo much untouch'd 
 vvith the infinite Grcatnefs and Glory of the Deity, 
 2nd fo little intercfted in, and concerned for the 
 Honour of his great Name, and thccverlafting Efta- 
 blifhmentof his Authority, and general Good of the 
 moral Syftem, we cannot but be fenfible, that we 
 are very unfit Judges on the Beauty and Goodnefs 
 of his Plan ; a$ 'tis eafy tofee,thc Ifraelites were, on 
 theWifdomand Bcautyof God'sCondudl with them 
 m the Wildernefs. They were too ]ow-fpirited,and 
 of too mean and felfifn Views, to be ftruck with the 
 Beauty of thofe noble and God-like Defigns, God 
 'ad in View, in their Separation from the Reft of the 
 V/orld. To God it appeared of vaft Importance, 
 as Things were then fituate in the World, to give a 
 Check to the univerfal Spread of Idolatry and Igno- 
 rance, and to revive the Knowledge of the true God, 
 2nd of the true Religion. And in a View to thefe 
 noble Ends, all his Conduit in Eg^'pt, at the Red- 
 fea» and in the V/ildcrnefs, appeared to him perfedly 
 wife and beautiful. To the Ifraelites, nothing ap- 
 peared of Importance, but that their Intereft, Eaic 
 and Comfort fliouldbe confuted, and provided for: 
 Whhch not being done to their Minds in the Wil- 
 dernefs, they heartily repented they ever hearkened 
 toMofes, or ever left Egypt,and would have dcfert- 
 cdMofes, made a Captain, and returned, had not 
 Almightinefs interpoied : And the IdcJ?., LcakS) 
 Onions and Fiefh Pots of Egypt, would have given 
 them CoritcP-t j while the Name of the God of 
 Abraham funk intouniverfalConttiriptby theMeant, 
 imong all Nations, and Idolatry became move efta- 
 bliftied than ever; as it w'ould have done, had they 
 dcierted Mofes^ and rct^irned, as was by them pro- 
 
 pofcd. 
 
in ths PcrmiJJiQfi of'Sl^. 117 
 
 pofdd. Now 'tis plain, this people were no pro- 
 per Judges of theWifdomand Beauty of God's Con-' 
 dudt. They were of fo ill a Tafte, and their Tem- 
 per was fo different from God's, that they would 
 naturally be blind to the Beauty of his Ways, and 
 alway (land ready to quarrel with hiin. 
 
 Had their Temper from the very firft been "' 
 and their Tarte good, they might have h? ' 
 cnt Infight into God's Defigns, altlio' ' 
 a full View : I fay, a fufHcicnt Infi<^ 
 Dcfigns, to have difcovercd a grea^ 
 in his Conduet, in fuffcring Phaiy 
 and bid Defiance, til ail Go 
 wrought in Ejypt ; and aficr^ 
 Heart, and purfue Ifrael, and 
 the Red - Sea ; that there Got 
 er, and caufe his Name to b 
 alltheEanhi that ifracl mi^ 
 the Lord, and might in A 
 Children, and their Childrens 
 mighty Works ; that they n 
 Gods of the Heathen were no L 
 ever cleave to the God of their Fa. 
 
 Nor had they the lead Rcafon ai ..^^ 
 from the Day they pafied thro' the Red-Si;,-5^iy^^ '" tr ^ 
 like one Step which God took : nor would the) ^ ^f 
 done ir, had they had a right Dirpontion. Ye'aV a 
 good Tafte would have enabled them to have feeuj 
 much Wifdom. in all God's Ways. '* Here in thij 
 *' Wildernefs, where there is neitlier Bre^d, ii 
 *' Water, nor Flefn, even here is a good Place foi 
 " the God of Abraham, our Father, to Tnew hi^ 
 ^^ Wifdom, Power and Gcodnefs, and train us upj 
 *' to a Senfe of his Allfutliciency, and bring us t< 
 " live wholly upon him, as Children upon a Fii- 
 ^^ ther, and to be wholly devoted to him." ThOi 
 uight they have thought. — And in (lead oi mui 
 
 -^ i 
 
Ii8 T^^ Wisdom of God 
 
 iTiurin^ at every new Difficulty, and. then falling 
 
 under tlieFrowns of the Almighty, they might have 
 
 fpent their whole Time in Prayer and Praife—tiU 
 
 they arrived at Mount Sinai— And while they were 
 
 fetting up the Tabernacle — And v^hilc the Spies 
 
 were gone to fearch out the Land.— And had they 
 
 ^•" \o^ had they been of fuch aTemper, and fpent 
 
 ■•e tliUs,thore 14 or i5Months^an inPrayer 
 
 '>e vvholcCon^iLregation would have been 
 
 ivedifrcgardtd the tenSpics,and chear- 
 
 '•"ed with Caleb and Jolliua, faying, 
 
 ^th us, there is no Danger. Have 
 
 \at he did in Egypt, at the Rsd- 
 
 ndhe that has done thefeThings, 
 
 »*, or Willingnefs to do whal 
 
 our Unbelief and Perverfenefs 
 
 ■ him to caft us off." And fo 
 
 lied right on to Canaan, driven 
 
 and taken Pofl'dTion. But 
 
 )er every Way the Reveife.And 
 
 •Jt. And it happened to them 
 
 heir Carcafes were doomed to 
 
 I'nefs — they behaved like wild Bulls 
 
 . ■ i w.Tc Occafion — blafphemed God — 
 
 atc/imeri atMofes— tillGod was obliged to ftrikc them 
 
 dead by Hundreds, and by Thoufands, fromTime 
 
 to'J'ime, before he could fubdue them. 
 
 Now '' they were our Enfamples, and thefe 
 *' Things were written for our InftrucSlIon." * Let 
 us take Heed therefore, that we do not murmur at 
 the divineConducft in the Government of theWorld, 
 as they did. Nor venture bhfphemouily to fay, 
 -' He has brought us out of Egypt into this Wij.. 
 
 -' dernefs, on Purpofe to deftroy us He has 
 
 *' fuffered Mankind to fall into a State of Sin and 
 ' Mifery, that he migh< delight himfelf in the 
 
 *' eternal 
 ^ I Cor, X. 2. 
 
//; the Termljjlon of Sx!T. TTJt 
 
 ** eternal Torments of the damned." Whcnas, the 
 IfraeJires would not have fallen in the Wildernefa,* 
 i^.ad they not perverfeJy defpifed the good Ivand," 
 wjiich flowed with Miik and Honey j and refufcd' 
 to give Credit to tlie Revelation they had of God's 
 Readinefs to lead them into Canaan. [And let it 
 be remembred, that it was not God's Decree, but 
 their own dearly beloved Lulls and Corruptions, 
 ■which influenced them to coiidu(5t as they did. J 
 Nor (hall we ever be fentenced to Hell, uiilefs wc 
 defpife the Glories of Heaven, and prefer theLseks 
 and Onions of Egypt, the Plealures of Sin and ot 
 this World ; and ib turn our Backs upon God, -iwdi 
 refufc to give Credit to the Revelation made to us 
 in the Gofpel, of God's Readinefs to be reconciled 
 thro' Chrili, and to grant us his holy Spirit to 
 lead us on to the heavenly Canaan ; nnd rcfufe to 
 comply with the GofpeUWay of Life. And if \v« 
 do a^^ thus wickedly, it is as reafonable vve ^lould 
 pcrifh) as it was, that the Carcafes of the wicked 
 Jfraelites fhould fall in the Wildernefs. And a^ 
 their Carcafes falling in the Wildernefs was over- 
 ruled by intinite Wifdom for the e;encral Good of 
 *hat Community, and to fill the ....cle E^rih with 
 his Glory : So will the righteous Punilnmcm of the 
 Wicked eternally in Hell be over-ruled to the Gooa 
 of the intelligent Syrtem, and God will be exalted, 
 throughout all hisDominions. Read iv^z;. XIX. i, — 6.. 
 The wicked Ifraelites did not feel themfelvcG to 
 Blame, to be fure, not much to Blame, for all their 
 Murmurinjs and Rebellions. '^ Who am.ong 
 *' Mortals," they were ready to fay, " would con- 
 *'' du6l otherwife than we do, under the like Cir- 
 ** cumJdances I We were always againft leaving 
 *' Egypt, and entering on fo wild an Expedition, 
 *' God has contrived it on Purpofe for our Deflruc- 
 ^ tion ! Fools that we were, ever to leave theFlefh- 
 L 3 " Pots 
 
",2 Tha Wisdom of God 
 
 *' ?Qi% of Ejypt ! Would toGod vre had lived and 
 
 *' died there ! 'J his had been our hig,heft Incereft. 
 ** Therefore let us make aCaptuin, and return, and 
 ** make our Peace with the Egyptians as well as 
 ^' we can, and fubmit to our lioudage tor ever.'* 
 When therefore the Judgments of God came uporr 
 them in fuch a dreadful Manner, they would natu- 
 rally be fo far from feeing thie Jut^ic^t or Wifdom 
 cf the divine Corhdud, that their Hearts would be 
 full of blafphemous Thoughts againft God and 
 Ivlofcs ; and the whole divineCondudl would appear 
 
 dark and unaccountable, to the highcft Degree. ' 
 
 And in all this they Ihew the very Spirit of unburn- 
 bled obflinatc Sinners, who are infenhblc of their 
 iiin and- Guilr, and Defert of eternal Damnation, 
 and are ready to fay,. '* God brought us into Being 
 ** on Purpofe to damn us. We had no Hand in it. 
 ** We wculd not have chofe it. Would to God 
 ** we had never been born ! Oh that we could re- 
 ^* turn to NoR-exiftence I That would be our true 
 ** Intereft." And inftead of feeing the Wifdom and 
 Jui^ice of God in his Difpenfations towards them, 
 they are full cf blafphemous Thoughts, and the 
 v/hc^^Oi^t^eyi-" V"^ Condud appears to them dark, 
 ^nd „ '\vuuntable, to the higheft Degree. 
 
 Had the IfraeJitts been thoroughly fcnfible how 
 hateful their Egyptian Temper, their carnal Difpo- 
 fition, their infidelity, and their continual Murmur- 
 ings were ; and how much to blame they appeared 
 ja the Sight of God ; the Juftice of the divine Con- 
 Gucfl v/ould, by them, have been eaGiy fecn. And 
 Ihat would have p^epartd th.em to have feen the 
 "Wifdom of his Ways too. " 'Tis fit, fuchWretches 
 *' as we, Ihould be (hut out of the promifcd Land, 
 and that our Carcafes fliauld fall in this V/ilder- 
 nels. And righteous art thou, O Lord, in our 
 " Dociii, Wc iuve but our jufl peferts. No 
 
 i' Wond-r 
 
in the PermiJJion cf Sin. 121 
 
 " Wonder the Earth fwallows up fucli Menders, 
 " and that Thourands are ftruck dead in a Moment, 
 " who arc guilty of fuch Crimes. Tne Honour 
 *' of the divine Maje% requires this Severity. And 
 " even theGood of ourPofterity makes it neceiTary." 
 
 Thus would they have thought. Nor can un- 
 
 humbled, obrtinateSinners ever djfcern theWifdom 
 and Beauty of the divine Government in general, 
 until firft their uncircumclfed Hearts are humbled, 
 and they cordially approve of the Jwftice of God's 
 
 Law, by which they (land condemned And are 
 
 " born again" As it is written, " Except a 
 
 *' Man be born again, he cannot fee the Kingdom 
 '' of God." For it is the '* pure in Heart," and 
 thiey only, that " ftiall see God." For " the na- 
 tural Man," who is dellitute of a fpiritualj holy, 
 divine Talle, " difcerneth not the Things of the 
 
 Spirit of God" fceth not tlie divine Beauty of 
 
 tiieLaw, or of the Gofpel — and for the fame Reafon 
 is blind to the VVifdom, Glory and Beauty of God's 
 univcrfal Plan. — —So very blind, that the full and 
 clear Revelation to be made of it at the Day 
 of Judgment, how convincing foever it may be to 
 their Reafon and Confcience, will be far from fuit- 
 ing their Hearts, Nor will \hc Beauty and Ami- 
 ablenefs of it be by them ever difcerned. For as 
 the obftinate Ifraelites, whofe Carcafes fell in llie 
 Wildernefs, never law the Beauty of God's Con- 
 duct towards that Congregation ; fo neither will 
 thofe, who die impenitent, ever fee the Beauty and 
 Glory of God's univerfal Plan.— But in Heaven it 
 will be ken. 
 
 To conclude. As all the hard Thouglits of the 
 divine ConduvTt, which are to be tuund in theFIearts 
 of Mankind, thro' a fallen, depraved, guilty World, 
 arife entirely fiona our partial Views an . badTafle; 
 fo thjfic is no oihcr Pvcmedy, but, fifll wi'-\lljto have 
 L 4 our 
 
i:2 The Wisdom cf God 
 
 our Hearts renewed and fanaified by divIneGrace ; 
 and then to endeavour to enlarge our Views of 
 God's univcrfal Plan, and fearch into the Nature of 
 the divine Government, and the glorious Defigns 
 and noble Ends which infinite Wirdom has inView, 
 and will at lall a-ccomplilh. 
 
 And as the Bible contains an authentic Hiftory 
 of the Conduel: of thi Deity,for a long Series of raa- 
 r ny hundred Ye.irs ; and by prophetic Reprefontati- 
 ons, opens to our View Things yet to come to pafs, 
 as far down as to the End of the World, and the 
 general Judgment, and the Confummation of all 
 ' Things ; fo hither fhould we come, with honeft 
 , Minds and pure Hearty, and form ^11 our Notions 
 of God's moral Perfedtions, the Nature of his moral 
 Government, and of his Views, Ends and Defigns 
 in all his Works, from what we find here written. 
 Nor ought any Solutions of Diiiiculties to be ac- 
 counted right, but fuch as quadrate exacftly with,yea 
 are the natural Refult of, Scrjpture-Reprefentations. 
 SoMi of the Heathen Philofophers,who knew no 
 better, imagined there were two Gods. A good 
 God, tl)e Author of all Good in the Syilem, whom 
 they called Oromasdes : and an evil God, the 
 Author cf all Evil in the Syflem, whom they called 
 Arimanius. But it is enough for us, to confute 
 this Hypothefis, that the Bible teaches us, that 
 there is but one God ; and that he is abfolutely 
 fupreme ; and does according to liis Pleafure in the 
 Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of 
 the Earth ; and that his Providence expends to t\G~ 
 ry Thing, both good and bad. — And it is fuppofed, 
 that tho"i^ remarkable Words, in Jfai. XLV. 6, 7. 
 ,dire(5Ved to Cyius, King of Perfia, where the forc- 
 'mentioned Notion, of two Gods, anciently prevail- 
 ed, wered/i5gned in exprefs Contradi^llon to that 
 ,Dodrine / *' I am ihe Lord> and tkert; is none 
 . ^ " die. 
 
/// the Permijfion of Sm. li^ 
 
 " elfe. I form Light, and create Darknefs : I 
 " make Peace, and create Evil : I the Lord do all 
 " thefe Things." 
 
 Some, who profefs to adhere to divine Revela- 
 tion, in order to folve the Difficulties relative to 
 God's Permiffion of Sin, aiTirm, it came to pafs un- 
 expecfledly to the divine Being ; as he was not ca- 
 pable of forefeeini; what would be the Condud of 
 free Agents. But it is enough for us to confute this 
 Hypodieus., that we have Hundreds of Infiances ill 
 i)cripture, of God's Fore-knowledge of the Condu6t 
 of ^Ttzt Agents, and »hat it is a Doc\rinc conlfantly 
 taught, and inculcated in the Bible. * 
 
 Others, to folve the Difficulties, have aflerted, 
 that it was not in the Power of God to prevent the 
 Kail of Free-Agents, without deftroying their Free- 
 Agency, and turning them into intelligentMachuies, 
 uncapable of Virtue, as well as of Vice. But it is 
 enough for us, to confute this Hypothecs, that it is 
 contrary to plain Sciiptu'eReprefentations, wh.ch 
 teach ui,that tlie Man ChrirtJerus,our fecondAdam, 
 vras a free Agent, capable of the highefl Virtue, and 
 yet in aconfirmed State, fa that he could not fin ; as 
 are aifo all the Saints and Angels now in Heaven. 
 From whence It appears, that it was in God's Power 
 to have confirined all Iiuelligences at firft 5 and lett 
 them moral Agents notwithllanding. 
 
 Others, 10 folve the Difficulties iVd! more fully, 
 have not only ailcrted as above, but alfo denied the 
 Eternity of Hell-Torments, and affirmed the uni- 
 vcrfal Salvation of Men and Devils. But it is eno* 
 for us, to confute this Hypothefis, that inftead of its 
 being taught in Scripture, it is contrary to what thofe 
 infallible Writings affirm, in Language, as plain, 
 and exprefs, and repeated, as could have been ex- 
 
 pecfled, 
 
 * See this proved at large in Mr. Ednaard: on Liberty, 
 Pa^. 98-116. 
 
124 The W'lSDOM cf Cod, &c, 
 
 pe6ted, if God had intended to ertablirti us ever fo 
 fuiJy ill the Belief of the Eternity of Hell-Tor- 
 iTjents. Of which, more afterwards. 
 
 Bur it will be faid, " \i God certainly foreknew 
 " that Man would fall, unlefs he interpafed, and 
 '' undertook, for their Safety : and if it was in his 
 " Power to have done it ; and it Millions would be 
 *« eternally miferable in Hell, if he did it not : why 
 
 " did not he interpafe and undertake" ? Not,! 
 
 dare fay, for want of Fore-thoui^ht, or of a thorough 
 weighiiig of ilie Affair, with all its Comcquences : 
 for he liad had the whole in full View, from eternal 
 A^es. — Nor will any pretend, it was abfolutely with- 
 out i.ny End at all : for an infinitely wiie Being al- 
 ways acls upon Deflgn. 
 
 '* Now God of his infinite Mercy grant, that b^y 
 '' a diligent Attention to the divine Oracles, and 
 *' thro' the illumination of the holy Spirit, we may 
 *' come to fuch an Underftanding of this Difpenfa- 
 *' tion of his Providence, as may tend to create in us 
 *' the greateit Dread of Sin, and the higheft Vene- 
 " ration for the divine Majcily ; and ihew us our 
 entire abfolute Dependence on God, and infinite 
 Obligations to him ; that v/e may learn to be per- 
 fedly feif-difBdenr, to trufl wholly in God, and 
 live wholly to hjm, thro* Jefus Chrifl ; to whom 
 " be Glory in the Church, World without End.'* 
 Aaizn. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 k 
 
 L 
 

 The Wisdom of God 
 
 in the Permiffion of Sin. 
 SERMON III. 
 
 Genesis L. 20. 
 
 TE thought Evil again/I Me j hut Cod 
 
 meant it unto Good 
 
 WERE the fupreme Monarch of the Univerfe 
 an arbitrai'y, defpotic Being, concluding 
 without ar>y Regard to what is fitting and 
 bed, havipg no Rcafon or Motive for wt^at he doth, 
 nor any End in View ; all our Enquiries and Re- 
 fearches into the Wifdom of God in the Permifiion 
 of Sin, murt be for ever in vain. If he niakcR his 
 Will his only Rule of A6lion ; and wills as he 
 does, without any Reafon or Motive ; a Stop, an 
 . eternal Stop, ought to be put to all Enquiries. For, 
 i no Reafon is lo be fought for a Thing, which is 
 done abfolutely without any Reafon at all. — But if 
 the fupreme Monarch of the Univerfe is a Being of 
 infinite Wifdom, and always chooles what is befl, 
 and does what is moft fitting, working all Things 
 cccsrdlng r« /A^ Counsel of/.\s own f Fill (Eph, L 11.) 
 
12^ ^he WiS'DOM of Cod 
 
 then his univerfal Plan muft be, yea, we may be 
 quite certain that it adtually is, perfed^ in Wifdom, 
 
 Glory and Beauty. And now it becomes us to 
 
 awaken all the Powers of our Souls to Attention : 
 and it is worth our while to dwell whole Days and 
 Months and Years, on this greatefl: and nobleA of 
 all Themes. And if we feel that the immenfe 
 Greatnefs of the Plan confounds us, and find our 
 fcives ftill at a Lcfs, yet being aiTured, the whole is 
 perfecft in Beauty, we will Jock into it, as fur as we 
 can i and haften to prepare for the "World of Light 
 above, where the Glories of this grand Scheme will 
 open to our View, and afford Matter of the fweeteft 
 Contemplation, and moft divine Delight thro' eter- 
 nal Ages. Since we are but juil emerged cut of 
 
 Non-exiftence, have fo very fmall an Acquaintance 
 with God's World, and fo feeble and weak a Taile., 
 fo poor a Difcernment of what is moft beautiful 
 and beft, it muft not feem Grange to us, if we can 
 fee but a little Way into the Glories of -the divine 
 Plan. Yet knowing that it is fo very exceeding 
 glorious, being chofen by infinite Wifdom before 
 all other poflible Plans, altho' infinite in Number 
 and Variety in the View of Omnifcience, we may 
 ardently long to look into it, and fearch the Scrip- 
 tures daily, ftudy theNature of the Deity, and lift up 
 our Eyes to Heaven for divine Light and Inlirudion. 
 All that hath been faid in the foregoing Ser- 
 mons, being kept in Mind, that we may now enter 
 dircdly into a View of the Wifdom of God in the 
 Permiflion of Sin, and -lay a Foundation for the So- 
 Jution of all Obje<5lions, we muft look back to the 
 Beginning of God's Vv'orks, and view his Condudl 
 from Step to Step, a»nd enquire into the Reafons of 
 each as we go along. And God grant us attentive 
 Minds, and right and enlarged Views, and a good 
 Tafte to difcern the Beauty and Glory of his uni- 
 
 verfai 
 
//; the PermiJJhn of SiJT. 127 
 
 verfal Plan ! — And let us begin as theBlbIc begins. 
 For th^t beft oF Books is to be our coaftant Guide, 
 the Man of our Counfel, a Light to our Feet, and a 
 Limp to our Paths, in all the Way we go. 
 
 1. A GRAND and noble Theatre was erected 
 ,'by God j a (landing;, vifible Evidence of liis eter- 
 nal Power and Godhead ; compleatly furniihed out, 
 as a Place o' Habitation for Man ; and as the grand 
 St3ge of Action, and Scene of all God's wonderful 
 Works, till the Day of Judgment.— What Ufe is to 
 be made of the material Syrtem after the Day of 
 Judixment, fliall be coniidered in its Place. 
 
 When we read the Jiiji Ferfe in Genefis^ — In the 
 Bc'ginning G^d created the Hsaven and the Earth-^w\t\\ 
 what fellows in that Chapter — Wc behold the whole 
 material Syftcm arifmg out of Nothing into Being, 
 by God's almighty Power. — Firil, it exills aCHAos, 
 without Form afid voitl^ buried in profound Darknefs ; 
 but, in fix Days, the whole is fet in a moH: har- 
 monious and beautiful Order ; a vifible and noble 
 Spt^cimcn of the infinite Power, Wifdom and Good- 
 ncfsof the great Eternal. — And how know we 
 but that the intelleclaal Syllem, reduced to fo near 
 a Refemblance of a Chaos^h'j the Revolt and prevail- 
 ing Influence of the Angels who left thiir pj) Ejlale^ 
 v\'ill yet under the Condu6t of mtinite Wifdom, 
 even under the Conduct of M^jfiah the Prince^ ii?.nd 
 forth m p^rfcvit Order,and the moll beautiful Har- 
 mony, a bright and noble Image of ail the g'oriou5 
 Perfections of the tnvifdde God ? 
 
 2. A Theater being erecSted, proper to raifs 
 in intelligent Creatures, fublime & exalted Thoughts 
 of Gjd, in the next Place, Man, a noble Crea- 
 ture, an intelligent-free-Agenr, capable of moral 
 Acilion, and a proper Subjed of moral Government, 
 is formed by God, and placed upon the Stage, as 
 
 ^iipud of a numerous Race, and nwdc Lord of ihis 
 M Igwcf 
 
1 2 3 The Wisdom ef Cod : 
 
 Jower World. <' God created Man in his own 
 " Image, in the Image of God created he him : 
 *' Male and Female created he them. And God^ 
 " blefTed them, and God Taid unto them. Be fruit- 
 'V and multiply, and repleni(h the Earth, and rub-( 
 *' due it : and have Dominion over the Filh of th**' 
 *' Sea, and over the Fowl of theAir, and over every 
 " living Thing that moveth upon the Face of the 
 « Earth." G<r«.,L27, 28. 
 
 And liere it ought -to be obferved, and it ought 
 never to be forgotten by us, that God, in the Ca- 
 pacity of Creator y did well by his Creature, Man. 
 He was made capable of knowing, loving, obeying 
 and enjoyiri^God ; as alfo of feeing the Beauty and 
 tafting the Sweetnefs of the Fruits of Paradife : and 
 he had a high Relifti for Knowledge and Happi-: 
 nefs.— -Befides, he was formed for Society, and h^id 
 an agreab^e Companion, and the ProfpecSt of a 
 happy Pofterity, who would grow up and honour 
 and love him as their common Father, thro' all 
 Generations. And he had open to his View all 
 the Glories of the vifible Creation, to infpire him 
 ■tv'ith fublime and exalted Thoughts of God, who 
 had brought him into Exiftence, and made -him 
 Lord of all here below. Surely, God, the Crea- 
 tor, dealt well by his Creature, Man, whom he thus 
 made but a-little lower than theAngels,and crowned 
 with Glory and Honour. Jnd Godfaiu every Thing 
 that he made, and behold it was fvery Go9d, Gen. 1. 31. 
 And therefore, 
 
 3. Man was under the greateft Obligations to 
 love the infinitely glorious God, his Maker,with all 
 his Heart, and to be for ever in Subjedion to his 
 Authority, and obedient to his Wiil. And thi{8, 
 was not only his Duty, but fuch was his Make, that 
 it would have afforded him the moft refined Plea- 
 fure and Delight. Therefore let it be repeated 
 
 again, 
 
in the Permijkon of Sii^. I2|^ 
 
 again, that God, his Cret^r^ bad done well by his Crca^ 
 ture^ Man.* And if after all this, he (hould fall 
 from God, it mud be his own Fault ; nor could he 
 any longer deferve thd Favour of his Maker, but to- 
 fmk. under his everlafting Difpleafure. Therefore, 
 
 Of Courfe his everlaffing Welfare muft depend- 
 on his good Behaviour. And had tliere been noCo- 
 venant or Conftitution at all, only the mere Law of 
 Nature ; yet according to that, it would have be- 
 come x.\\Qmo/i Hlgh^ as moral Governour and Judge 
 of the World, in Cafe of the Rebellion of his Crea- 
 ture, Man, to have teftitiedhis hig,hDifplearure againlV 
 hisCrime,in his evcrlallingDeftruftion. ForlhclVage: 
 cf Sin isDccdh. The Honour of theDeity would have 
 called for fuch a PuniQiment, as well as.tiie Good 
 of the intelligent Syftem, that all might hear'' and 
 fear and^ do no more fo Wickedly. Wherefore 
 God,:^he holy and good Governour of the World, 
 exprcily afllires his Creature, Man, what he might 
 depend upon in Cafe of Difobcdicnce. In ti.e Day 
 thou eatejl thereof tkrAt /halt jure ly die. Geni II. 17, 
 And thus alfo God did vjeil by his Greature5Man5. 
 in the Capacity of his moral Governour. He let 
 him know his great Obligations to Obedience : how 
 much he infixed upon it : how liighly he fl-iould 
 refent his Difobedience : That.he would caPi him, 
 not oj^ly out of his Favour, ana out of Paradife, but 
 our of his World : Would even put him to Death, 
 anvi fend his guilty Soul, under the divine Difplea- 
 M 2 fare 
 
 * ^i'^ftlon. IIov/ was it pofl^ble for Man, created in fjth 
 
 holy and happy Circumllances, ever 10 Hn \ 
 j^frfMiv. It is thought by fome very diiBcult. to anfwcr 
 this Queflion. And had neither Argels nor Men ever 
 finned, perhaps it might have been thought an impoflibic 
 Thing, that they ever fnould have finned. Which Vicv/ 
 cf the C\\{^^ I delire the Reader to keep in Mind, and 
 -mean while wait a little for a Soluticn of the DifRculty 
 fropoicd. 
 
13^ ^-^^ Wisdom of God 
 
 fure, naked, forlorn, undone, to everlafling Defjiat 
 and Woe, no Hope being given of any Relief. 
 
 Thou shalt surely die. And what more 
 
 could God have done, as his moral Governour, to 
 
 have prevented his Apoftacy and K.uin. If after 
 
 all this he would venture to difobey, mull he not be 
 iorcver inexcufable ? 
 
 4. God took it for granted, thaf he had now done 
 enough, and faid enough ; and might, becoming his 
 Charader, as his Lord an«l King, not only demand, 
 but reafonably cxpc6\Obedience, & juflly fufpcnd his 
 everlafling Welfare on that Condition. Yea, he judged, 
 that as Governour of the World, it became him to 
 do fo, that he might fecurc his own Rights, and 
 maintain the Honour of his Authority. Nor did he 
 look upon himfelt obliged to be hisKeeper, and be- 
 come Surety for him, and undertake to prcfcrve him 
 tromSin,bv h.is conftantlnterpofition : But judged, he 
 might, having done enough h faid enough,novv leave 
 him to his ownChoice,as having all needful Qualifi- 
 cations to render lum a proper Subjed of moralGo- 
 vernment, havingfufhcient internal Abilities, & fuffi- 
 cient outward Advantages to know and do hisDuiy. 
 And accordingly God did leave him to his 
 
 Choice. He was deceived bySatan's Lies,— broke 
 
 the divine Law, and fell into Ruin. As the Event, 
 recorded in the third Chapter of Genefn^ fufficiently 
 proves- But God and his Throne were guiltlefs. 
 
 5. Our hrft Parents Defign in eating of the for- 
 bidden Fruit, was, to make a furprifing Advance in 
 Knowledge and Happinefs j not by fuch flow De- 
 grees as they had before expected, but at once to 
 become as Gods. Deceived by Satan's Lies, captiva- 
 ted by thisTemptation,lhcFruit alfo appearing pleai» 
 fant totheEye, and good forFood,thcy took and eat, 
 
 Satan's DeHgn was to bring Dilhonour upon 
 God, Ruin upon Man, and then to lift up bimfeif^ 
 
 
;/; the PermlJfiQn of Si)^. 13 I 
 
 exult and trlumpli in his Deed. Bcinj an invetcra'e 
 Kncmy to God, and to all Good ; and having a pc- 
 culiarSpijht atA43n,*nothing could give him grcaicr 
 Joy, than to ruin a new-made World, which, as it 
 appeared to him, God had created for the Honour of 
 his great Name, and as a Place of happy Abode for 
 
 his Creature, Man ; to fee God's Creature give 
 
 more Credit to him, than to his Maker; to feeGod^s 
 Subject defert his righihil Su^reign & Lord, and join 
 with him; to TeeGod's Authority diiregardcd, ^chim- 
 felf obeyed ; I lay, to fee God thus ddobeyed, difap- 
 pointed,di(l-ionoured, Man ruined, this lower Creation 
 fpoilt, while he himlelf IS believed, obeyed, iionourtd,' 
 would pcrfcdiiy fuit theDevi/a Heart, lb full ot Pride, 
 of Enmity againft God, and Ill-will to Man. 
 
 God's Defign, in permitting Satan fo far to {uc- 
 cccd in this moft Helhlh Attempt, was, that lic 
 might take Occafion to brmg more Hofiour to Gotl^ 
 and to make the good Part of the Creation moi-'^ 
 humble, holy and happy. And finally, as eftcctuaily- 
 to difappoint Satan in all his Schemes, as was Pii:: - 
 raoh, when he and his Army lay over-whelmed m 
 
 . M 3 xhz 
 
 * The Angels are appointed minlftring Spirits, to. niimlldr 
 to ihofe who are the Heirs of Salvation. (Ke>i>. I. 14) 
 And, perhaps, as foon as Man was created, it wag revealed' 
 to all the Hofls of Henven, that it (hoald be their Rm- 
 ployracnt, to attend upon Adam and his nv.Txrous Race. 
 Perhaps Satan might think this too depriding, for one fo. 
 fo fuperior to Man, as he perceived himf^lf to be, to be 
 thus employed. And fo Pride, liis firll Sin, .. ni'ght 
 take Occafion to rife in his Heart. And to be- levenged 
 on Go! ^ind Mm, bath at once, he hid a Scheme forMan's 
 , Seduction aid Ruin. And from iha.t Day to this, h.iih 
 never cciifed to duJy our Allfchief. — if this Occadon of 
 the F'all of Angels is a mere ConjciTtiire, yet it is the mod 
 prob:iblc I know of : .And what nukes it the more proba- 
 ble, it will accountfgrSjitwi'sgreaiZei^lfoj;: thcCeftruttio^ 
 
132 fjThe Wisdom of God 
 
 *he Bottom of the Red-Sea. Which Defign,for the 
 le Encouragement of our firfl Parents, was hinted 
 to them foon after the Fall. The Seed of the If'oman 
 jlall hrwfe the Serpent's Head, Gen. III. 15. 
 
 Wh£n the great Omniscient fa w, that Rebel- 
 lion would break out in Heaven, and the Infe<5tion 
 I each down to this lower World, and fpread all over 
 theEarth, he practically faid — ''After all I have done 
 *' for them as theirCreator,and faid to them as their 
 ** moral Governour, 1 and my Throne are guitlefs, 
 *' — to themfelves I leave them — and now will it 
 *' be known, what is in their Hearts ; and 1 alfo 
 *' will take Occafion to fhew what is in my Heart : 
 *^ and they (hall know that I am the Lord, and the 
 *' whole intelligent Syftem Ihall be filed whh my 
 ** Glory.'* ('analogous to what is written in 2 Chron, 
 XXXil. 31. Dcut. VIIL 2. £aW. X. 2.) 
 
 I. God knew that it belonged to the Nature of 
 afl finite Beitigs, to be mutable and peccable ; and 
 that the beft might degenerate fo far as to become 
 the worfl : no Being in the Syftem being byNature 
 immutable, but God alone. As it is written, / avi 
 the Lord, / change net. MaL 111. 6. 
 
 To be by Nature immutable, Is peculiar to the 
 Deity, and cannot be communicated ro a Creature ; 
 becaufe it implies Infinity. God only is capable of 
 fuch a ccmpleat Viev/ of all Things, paft, prelent, 
 and to come, at once» as leaves no ^oom for any 
 new Views. And his Views being for ever exa6\ly 
 the fame, there is in his Nature a fixt Foundation 
 for Lumutability in all his Purpofes and Determina- 
 tions. Whereas, the mort exalted of ai-l finite Beings, 
 being capable of only partial Views 01 Things, are 
 conffantly enlarging and varying their Views and 
 Profpe6ts, and are liable to liave a Set of Thoughts 
 wh'.jlly new, which may lead on to new Deierpiina- 
 tions uad Pui;pu«e5. And auiidft an infinite Yaricty 
 
/;; the Permijfton of SiN. i ^ 5 
 
 of new Views and new Determinations, Things 
 may poiTibly lb appear, as that the mofl: exalted of 
 mere Creatures may make a wrong Judgment, and 
 take a wrong Turn, and lb fail into Sin and under 
 tiie divine Dlfpiearure. 
 
 Wherefore to God, who faw the finite Capa- 
 cities cf finite Intelligences, and their confequent 
 Liablencfs, as Things might happen, to Deception 
 and Apoflafy, it plainly appeared, that he could not 
 fately depend upon their Stability. He knew liim- 
 felf to be the only immutable Being in the Syllcm, 
 the fame Yefterday, to Day and forever ; but be 
 put no Tru/} in his Servants^ and his Angds he charged 
 with Folly {Job. IV. 18.) or as it is elfev.'here ex- 
 prefled, (j^VZ'. XV. 15.) He putteth no Trv/f in his 
 Saints ; yea^ the Heavens are not dean in his Sight. 
 
 And yet, for Things to continue for ever ia 
 fuch an uncertain, unfettled State, mufl have been 
 undefirable to the immutabieBcing, who loves Im- 
 mutability in liimfclf, and the Image of it in his 
 Creatures ; and loves to fee his Authority cdablifli- 
 ed, and his Kingdom fettled in Peace and everlafl:- 
 ing Order and Harmony ; and loves to fee the eter- 
 nal Welfare of his Creatures on a fafe Footing, and 
 clear out of the Reach of any pofTible Danger. 
 
 But how much foever to the Honour of God, 
 and to the Good of the SyRem ; and howdefira- 
 ble foever in thefe two Rcfpe(5\s, it might appear 
 in the Sight of God, that the intelligent Syllein 
 fhould unanimoully adhere and cleave for ever to 
 the Lord ; yet, in the Nature of Things, there 
 could be no certain Security for this, uniefs he 
 himfelf, the only immutable Being, ibould under- 
 take and become Surety for all hisCreatures. 7>.ere 
 could be no certain Depcndance upon Creatures, 
 left to tliemfcives, how git af and txctilent fo- 
 ever their original Powers ; becaufe, after all, th«y 
 M 4 v'ere 
 
^4^ T'ke Wisdom of God 
 
 were finite ; and therefore muft have new VIewS| 
 and fo wtre liable to wrong Determinations. God, 
 •who was pcrk'dly acquainted with the Nature of 
 himfeif, and o fall created Beings, plainly faw, that 
 himklf alone was by Nature ablolutely immutable, 
 and that all created Int«lligences muft, after all 
 their noble Endowments and exalted Stations, be 
 ablolutely dependent on him, not only for the Con- 
 tinuation of their Beings and original Powers ; hut 
 alfo for their Prefervation from Sin and ApoAacy. 
 As it is written. Then is none gGod, but One^ihat isGad, 
 Mar. X. 18. 
 
 2. However, Innocent holy Beings, who as yet 
 never felt the leafl Inclination to fwerve from God, 
 but on the contrary were entirely wrapt up in him, 
 r could not eafily perceive how it fliould be pofTible 
 for them to turn away from the Deity, and become 
 Apuflate. Yea, fuch a Thing would naturally ap- 
 pear to be impo{rible,as they telt no Inclination that 
 ^ Way, nor had in View any Thing which feemcd to 
 ■ be of the Nature of a Temptation to it. Nor was 
 it pQ(rible5they fhould feel an Inchnation to fin, while 
 r innocent : for the leafl: Motion of their Hearts to- 
 ; -wards Sin, would conftitute them Sinners, in the 
 j Eyes of perfedt Purity. Nor was it pcfTible they 
 ' fhould feel any Force in any Temptation to Sin, un- 
 } lefs the Temptation excited in them fomelnclma- 
 L tion that Way : for if they felt no Inclination that 
 :[ Way, then tlie Temptation would appear to have no 
 \ Weight in it. If it weighed nothing with them, it 
 would appear to have no Weight in iifelf. So that, 
 as long as they remained innocent, they could nei- 
 ther feel any Inclinatiom to Sin, nor perceive any 
 
 Force in any Temptation. Wherefore it niuft be 
 
 , very unnatural to an innocent holy Being, to r.p- 
 tprehend any Dangef of his ever turning from God. 
 Nor cpuld he eafily b€ brovght to know the Muta- 
 bility 
 
j?j the Perni'iJJlsn of Sv^. 135* 
 
 bility of his Nature, or ever to imagine It could be 
 in his Heart to fin againtl: God, unlefs left to find 
 out the Truth by his own fad Experience. 
 
 ^|£t any Man atitnd to the Co^rftitution of hi-s 
 own Mind, and he will foon perceive how unnatu- 
 ral it is, to think our felves in Danger of a Crime, 
 to wh-»ch we never felt The leaft Inclination, nor ever 
 once thought of any Thing in- Nature, that could 
 be a Temptation ; yea, to xrhich, whenevef we 
 think of it, we feel the greateft Avx^rfion. As, what 
 dutiful Child ever thought himfelf in Danger of 
 murdering his Father, whom he greatly loves and 
 honours ? And if a divinely infpired Prophet (hould 
 tell him, that he, one Day, (hould be guilty of fuch 
 a fhoikirjg Crime, he could hardly believe it. This 
 naturally brings to mind the Srorv of Hazatl (\n 
 2 Ki^Tv. VIII. II — 13.) who, when the Prophet told 
 him, how he n-ioukj hum the Ji^ong Holds of Ijrael^ 
 Jlay their yiung Men with the Sword^ and dajh their ChiU 
 dreriy and rip up their iVonwi with Chiidy having never 
 felt any lucliaation to fuchBarbarities toward them, 
 and not forefeeing any Temptation he Hiould ever 
 have to coiiimit fuch Things, fo Ihocking to human 
 Nature, readily aniwered, Is thy Servant a Dng^ that 
 hi jhould do this great Thing ! — So when our blelTed 
 Saviour told Peter, that he (hould deny him that very 
 Nighty he was far from thinking it was in his Heart 
 to do fo. Nor could the Predidion ©f Chriii induce 
 him to believe,th3t it would come to pafs. Y|^, it^ 
 did not feem to him, there was really any Danger ot 
 it, as he had no hiclination that Way i yea, felt 
 the grea^eil Averfion to it And it did not fcem,that 
 any Thini^ could teuipt him to it ; No, not even 
 Death itfelf. For he felt, he had rather die,than do 
 it. Mar. XIV. 29. Jllho* allJJjiuldbc offended, yet will 
 not I. Ver. 31. If I JJ)c>uld die luith thee^ J will not ds^ 
 tiy tbfi in any w'fe. And this was the Voice of them 
 
 all> 
 
1^6 The Wisdom of God 
 
 all, tho* Chrid had exprefly told them, AllycJhaUhe 
 bffendtd hccavfe of me tlm Ni^ht ; and even contirmed 
 his i*"redi<5tiun by an ancient Prophecy, — Fir it is 
 written, I willjmiie the Shepherd^ ar.d ihe Sheep Jhall be 
 fcattered. Vcr.a;.— Much Icfs would innocent, holy 
 ijeings, who had never heard that any one Intelli- 
 gence had ever fallen, or ever difcerned any X^^^^g 
 in the State of theirMinds within, or in the Situatioa 
 of Things without, that had the leaftTendency that 
 .Way^but every Thmg totliecontrjiry,— 1 fa-y^much 
 Jefs would fuch Beings be apt to fufptd any Danger 
 of their loifaking the Fountain ot all Good, and. 
 turning Enemies to the God thai made then^. Nay, 
 rather, 1 imagine, they would be apt to look upon 
 it, as a Thing, in its own Nature, near or quite un- 
 poJible.* Therefore, 
 
 3- If God, in aSenfe of theirMutability,out of his 
 ©wn mer^Goodn^s and lovareiga Grace, to pre* 
 
 vent 
 
 # 
 
 Object. *« The Difciples were guilty of Sclf-Ccnfi- 
 *• dence, and were to blame. Surely holy Beings hav« 
 *' no blame-able Self- Confidence." 
 
 Aksw. They have not, The Oifaiples might have 
 
 known better. They had htard of the Angels Fall, of 
 Adam's Fall, and of the Falls of Noah, Lot, David, and 
 other mod eminent Men ; and had had abundant t.xperi- 
 erce of the Wickednefs and Dcceitfjlnefs of their o\\% 
 Hearts, all which, together with Chrift's exprefs rrcdlc- 
 tion, rendered them to Llnmc. Yet it will rot follow, 
 tl^at an innocent holy B(jing, jufl come into KxiHerce, 
 full of Love to God, leaving never heard of the Fall of 
 any, nor ever thought of any Temptation to Sin, is to 
 blame, beciufe it Teems to him Impollible, that ever he 
 flioiild turn Enemy to the God that made him, or onee 
 go contrary to his W \\\. •' How can I do it ?" v.oufd 
 he be ready to fay^ *' In all Nature tljerc is nothing to 
 " tempt me : but every Thing to the contrary." * And 
 the more he loved God, the more impolTiblc would it 
 fcem, that he fhould ever revolt. 
 
/// the PermiJJioJi ^ Sm. 1 3 7 
 
 •-rent their Apoftafy,anci the infinitely dreadful Con- 
 fequenccs, which, in aGovernment lb pertedly holy 
 as his, Sin muft expofe them to, all which lay opeh 
 to his View : — —I fay, if Ood had become Surety 
 for all Intelligences, if the only immutable Be- 
 ing had, in luch Circumftances, undertaken by his 
 ever watchful Eye, and the conftant Jpfluences of 
 his Spirit, to have rendered afl Intelligences immu- 
 tably Good ; alt!\ough the Kindnefs done th.m, in 
 God's Account, had been full infinitely Great, \et 
 not fo in theirs : for they wou'ci not have been in a 
 Capacity to have difcerned the Kind r.cfs. fcarce at 
 all : Much lefs, to have been fo thoro'ly fenfible of 
 their ablolute Dependence on God, and infinite 
 Obligations to hiiri,as now, according to the prelent 
 Plan, the faved will for ever be. 
 
 Had all Intelligences been preferved in their 
 original Re(5litude, and fo never /elt in themfelves 
 the leail Inclination to Sin, but always perr'e<5lly to 
 the contrary, they would have been apt to have 
 thought it irapolTible, that any holy Being fl^.ould 
 ever depart from God ; and io would not have been 
 apt to have attributed their immutability to God, 
 theirPreferver, but rather to th.eirown inherentGood- 
 nefs. And fo their abfolute Depend ance on God, 
 the only immutable Being, and their infinite Obh- 
 gations to him, for interpofmg to prevent their 
 Apoilacy, would not have been k^n. Nor could 
 they have had any proper Senfe of the felf- moving 
 Goodnefs and fovereign Grace of God,exerciicd to- 
 wards them in this Affair. In 4 Word, God would 
 not have been exalted fo highIy,nor would thefe In- 
 telligences have looked on themfelves fo infinitely 
 beneath him, fo dependent, (o much obliged j nor 
 would divine fovereign Grace have ilood in fuch a 
 dear and (tnking Point of Light, as was really defir- 
 able. Tiie Truth would have lain, in a Meafure, 
 
 concealed 
 
13^ TT-f^ V.'iSDOM of God 
 
 concealed, beyond the Reach of linite Capacities, 
 there being in Nature no Means provided, whereby 
 they could have com-e to the clear and full Know- 
 ledge of it. Therefore, 
 
 4. They were not fit to be confirmed ; nor 
 would it have been to the Honour ot God, to have 
 coafirmed thtm, as Things Irocd. — i liey were not 
 prepared to feel, that they flood in Need of this 
 Super- CrcaUcn-Qxzcty (if 1 may fo c?ll it) not as yet 
 knowing, nor, for ought appears, fo much as luf- 
 pecSting, that they were in any Danger. They (lood 
 firm within themfeJves, nor was tlierc a«y 7'hing 
 in univerfal Nature to draw them afide from Gc'd, 
 as it fcemed to iiwrn. And had Gcd then inter- 
 pofed, it muft have been to the«i an infeniible Jn- 
 tcr}>ofition ; of which they felt no Need, and for 
 v/hich they were unprepared to be Uiank ul. 
 
 If God had coniuntly preiervtd them from the 
 firft Stirrings of an Inclination to Apoftacy, as they 
 had never heard of fuch aThing in all the Syftem,or 
 felt any Tendency of Heart tliat V/ay, his I«ter- 
 pofition murt have been undifcerned by them ; nor 
 couid they have come to the Knowledge of it, un- 
 lefs by immediate Revelation from God ; which, as 
 the Cafe A-ood, they wer» unprepared to underfland, 
 or attend to, as not fteling any Need of it. A Re- 
 velation in fuch a Situation wouW not have produced 
 the dcfired Effcc^fs. Nothing could teach them like 
 Experience. And indeed this is evidently the Cafe 
 fo univerfally. that it is even become a Proverb, that . 
 Expaience is'ths heji S>cho:ji- Mailer. — So that it fetms 
 plain, tliat Intelligences, as they were at firfl: created, 
 were not in proper Circuml^ances to be corhrmcd: 
 nor could God have confirmed them, with thai Ho- 
 nour to himfclf that was defirable and fit. 
 
 For, if God, the only immutable Being, of hi 
 awa miinite Goodnefs and fovereign Giace, (hou' 
 
 w 
 
 .^ 
 
in the Permtjftatt tf/SibT. ijf 
 
 flicw fuch a Kindnefs to any of his Creatures, it was 
 
 iit and defirab'e, that they (hould be thoroughly 
 fenfibie of the Gr.atncfs and Freenefs o^ his Grace, 
 The Kindnefs dor^e to a mutable, peccable Crea- 
 ture in fcch a Cafe, as to the Matter of it, muft be 
 of infinite WorJth : it being aConfirm^iion in ever- 
 lading Happinefs. And as the Kindnefs in con- 
 firming a peccable Creaturc,mart be infi'iitely grea% 
 fo tiie Gnce mufl be ablblutcly free. God had done 
 fo much for all Inteiiigcnccs in their firft Creation^ 
 that he was under no Obligations to <!o any more» 
 He was abiblutely at Liberty. He looked upon it 
 in this Light. And had he, to what he had origi- 
 nally done for them as their Creator, fuper- added 
 confirming Grace, i. e. undertaken, as their Guar* 
 dian,to have been their conftantKeeper, and engaged 
 his own Immutability to have render'd them immu- 
 tably good, thd Favour had .been quite over and 
 above what was due from the Creator to his Crea- 
 ture ; and fo, had been in a peculiar Senfe free^ 
 Now for a Favour, infinitely greats and fo ahfohitcly free^ 
 to be conferred in ftch a Manner,as that ihcC^rcat- 
 nefs and Freenefs oi' itihould never have been lecn by 
 Intelligences, was neither for the Honour of God,» 
 nor for the bed Good of his Creatures. And, 
 
 5. It was but paying properHonour to thcDeity, 
 for God, as moral Governor of the World, to take 
 State to hiQifelf, and in the Sight of all created In- 
 telligences, to feat himfelf upon his Throne, and 
 proclaim his own infinite Supremacy, and cloatli 
 himfelt with his proper Authority, and let all kiiov/ 
 their infinite Obligations to love, and honour and 
 obey Him, on Pain of his everlafting Difpieafure, 
 and their everlafting Baniihment from his glorious 
 
 Pi^icnce. Fo have concerned himfelf only for 
 
 his Creature's Good, unfolicitous for the Rights of 
 the God-head, in the very Beginning of his Rcig;i^ 
 
14© The Wisdom of Cod 
 
 and when the fird Foundations of his cvprlafting 
 Kingdom were laying, had been to countcradl his 
 »wn Nature, and his chief Maxims of (}overnment. 
 And indeed, as he is the great Being, and in a 
 Jvenfe the only Beinj, all theCrcation being nothing 
 compared with him, yea, lefs than nothing and 
 Vanity ; So it was fit, all Intelligences rtiould early 
 be taught to view him in that Light. And what 
 Xlethod could be better fuited to ihis End, than to 
 Jet all the intelligent i^yllem know, thnt their ever- 
 kfting Welfare was fufpended on the Condition of 
 their paying fupreme Honour, and yielding conflant 
 Obedience to this glorious Monarch of theUniverfe: 
 in the mean Time leaving them to their own 
 Kvflecitlon.s^ and to their own Choice ; as being 
 confcious to himfelf of their infinite Obligations to 
 yield e'verlartingObediejicc to his Law ? 
 
 And if, in this State of Things, any of his Crea- 
 tures (hould venture to rife in Rebellion againft his 
 glorious Majefty, the Way would be open for him 
 10 take fuch Steps as would have the moft effeflual 
 Tendency to dilcountenance Sin, to exalt God, to 
 ^liumblc the Sinner, and glorify Grace ; and to pre- 
 pare the Way for the Confirmation of innumerable 
 A'iUltitudes of Intelligences, inHolinefs and Happi- 
 
 refs, to the bell Advantage.- All his gracious 
 
 Plan lay open before him. He knew, from Step to 
 
 Step, how Intelligences would condu61,and how he 
 
 >iimfelf would ^nterpofe and over- rule, and how the 
 
 . Whole would finally iilue. And he pra^^VicaJly faid, 
 
 ; •* Now ihall it be known, what is in their Hearts. 
 
 \ *• And Occafion fiiall be given to (hew, what is in 
 
 • '< my Heart. And itfliall be known,that I am the 
 
 ^5' Lord. And the whole intelligent Syftem fliall 
 
 ** be filled with my Glory." And, 
 
 6. The State of Things in the moral Syflem was 
 ftct iuchjiramecliately afiei* theCrcation, aswas lui-^ 
 
 tabic 
 
/;/ the PcrmJJJtOH sf Siv. 14 1 
 
 table to the Confirmation of Intelligences, in a Way 
 af^reable to the Ends of moral Government, (jod 
 inuft have done all immediately^ and without thiir Jit 
 much as difcerning their Need of it. For there wers 
 as yet, comparatively fpeaking, no Means of Confir- 
 mation. They had not had Opportunity, in any 
 jnllancejto fee the infinitely evil Nature and dread- 
 ful Confequenccs of Sin. Nor did it yet appear 
 what infinite Abhorrence the Almighty had of Ini- 
 quity, by any 1 hing he had done. Nor did they fo^ 
 much as know their Danger, and their Need of the 
 divine Interpofition. Things, therefore^ ,were by na> 
 Moans ripe for a general Confirmation. 
 
 Indeed God could have confirijied created Li 
 telligences then, but not in a Way To agreablc to 
 the Ends of moral Government, z^ afterwards, /. c. 
 not fo much to the Honour of the moral Govtrnor, 
 
 and to the fpintual Advantage of his Creatures. 
 
 Wlicn Satan, a glorious Arch-Angel, revolted, and 
 drew off a third Part (perhaps) of the Inhabitams 
 of Heaven j and when, for their Sin, they were dri- 
 ven out from the Prefence of God, down to an eter- 
 nal Hell : and when the ele^ Au|;;cls had flood by, 
 and with a perfect Aftonifliment bwhcld this unex- 
 peded Revolt of iheirCompanians ; and vvith facrctl 
 Dread {cun divine Wrath blaze out from the eternal ; 
 Throne of Heaven's almighty Monarch, driving . 
 the Rebcl-Hofl from thofe cele^ial Regions, dowa 
 to Darknefs and endlefsWoes : and when tl;e eledt 
 Angels, foon after, faw our firfk Parents turn away 
 from God, and for their Sin driven out of Paradift, 
 and 3:11 tliis lower World doomed to Death ; and 
 when they had Aood by 3 or 40CO Years, and been \ 
 Speclators ot the Judgments infli-fled by God on a ' 
 wicked VVorld, {tew the general Dtluge, the mira- 
 culous DeO radian of Sodom and Cjomorrha byFire 
 from H;;aven, the tzn Pla'gues of tgyi^r, the Over- 
 
tj^t The Wisdom ef God 
 
 Xhroyt of Pharaoh and his Hoft in the Rccl-Sea, the 
 Carcafes of fix hundred Thou land Ifraelites fall in 
 the Wildernefs, and the long Series of Calamities 
 tvhich God fent upon his People in the Times of 
 their Judges, and in the Reigns of their Kings, till 
 Jlracl and Judah were both carried away captive for 
 their Sins,and the glorious hoIyTcmple laid inAlhes: 
 and viewed all God's Ways,even down to the Birth 
 ;?nd Death of the Messiah, the moft aftonilhing 
 Event that ever did, or ever will happen, thro'out 
 *ternalAges ; and beheld their fovereignLord, who 
 m the Beginning had created the Heaven and the 
 JEarth, and whom, from their firft Exigence, they 
 had worfhipped as the fupremc God, as God over 
 ail blefled for ever, even him ftepping into the 
 Koom of apoftate Man, and dying in his Stead to 
 fjiake Atonement for his Sin : I fay, when the el€<5^ 
 .Angels had ftcod by for 4000 Years, atnd f€Ci> all 
 ihth Things, and had full Time for Confideration ; 
 their Thoughts of God, of themfelves, of Sin,would 
 be almoft infinitely different from what they were 
 immediately after their Creation. And now, if God 
 ft\o\M fee Caufe to confirm them, that they might 
 never fall,it would appear to them, aKindnefs quite 
 infinitely gi cat, and infinitely free. Their kbfolute 
 Dependeace on God, and infinite Obligations to 
 him, and the infiniteMalignity of Sin, would natu- 
 rally be fo deeply impreffed on their Hearts, by an 
 attentive View of all thefe Things, as would greatly 
 tend to their cvcrlafting Confirmation ; and prepare 
 them to receive, with fuitable Gratitude, aKindncffi 
 tf fuch infinite Value, at the Hands of God. 
 
 The Fall of their Companions in Holi^cfs and 
 Happinefs, and then of innocent Man, would natu- 
 rally lead them to fee their owaMutability,and makii 
 them feel their Need of being held up by him, who 
 u alone by Natureunchangcablc>and bring them toan 
 
 abfolut^ 
 
in the Penmjpon df Ziln, 143 
 
 abfoluteDependenceon him. God's permitting others 
 to fall, as great and good as themfelves^would natu- 
 rally Jead them to fee, that God was under noObli* 
 gations to keep them through their Time of Trial : 
 which would induce them to have Recourfe to fove- 
 reign Grace, and be always on their Watch. A 
 Sig^ht of the infinitely dreadful State of Satan and his 
 Hod, once their Fellow-Citizens, now bound in 
 Cliains of Guilt and Dcfpair, to the Judgment (>f 
 *the great Day, then before all Worlds to be bro't 
 forth, judged, condemned and doomed to the moi^ 
 intolerable Pains of Hell, never to end ; would na- 
 turally tend to realise to them the horrible Wick- 
 ednefs and dreadful Nature of rifmg in Rebellion 
 againft God, and make them tremble at the Tho't. 
 And while they beheld all God's Conduct toward* 
 Mankind, from the Fall of Adam, to the Death,Re- 
 furrecflion and Exaltation of Chrill^ and looked 
 forward to the final Conflagrationr, and Confummu- 
 tion of all Things, it would give them fuch a View- 
 of all God's moral Perfe<5lions, fliining forth in hife 
 moral Government of the World, and fst the iirE- 
 nitely evil Nature and dreadful Confequences of 
 Sin in fuch a Light, as would have the ftrongeft 
 Tendency to confirm them in everlafting Love and 
 Obedience to the fupreme Being, and difpofe them 
 to receive at God's Hands a Promife of their evcr-|- 
 lafting Eftablilhment, wiili the utmoft Gratitude. ' '. 
 
 The Angels, who flood, being no where in Scrip- 
 ture denominated Elect, until after the Exaltation 
 of Chrift, fome have thought they were held in a 
 State of Trial till then ; when by their Confirma- 
 tion, God's eternal Defigns of Love towards them 
 were manifefted. And it is certain, thn.twhen they 
 had been Spe6lators of all God's Works in Heaven, 
 Earrh andHell, thro' fo long a Period, they mufl be 
 •.. -■'-v.'.a o« inHnitely better Capacity to receive 
 N 3 Coniiniaatic 
 
144 T'-J.f Wisdom of Gai 
 
 Con fir ma.tLon, than immediately after their Creation* 
 And tfreir Confirmation: now would be infinitely 
 rnore to God's Honour, than if it had been granted 
 fit their hrll Exigence ; and rheir own Humility, 
 tloiinefs and Happinefs be increafcd an Hundred, 
 cr a Thoufand, or perhaps ten Thoufand fold. 
 Therefore, 
 7. Om Suppofitlon that a third Part were fallen 
 •^TiA lofl, yet it is eafy to fee how there may be 
 eiernilly more Holinefs and Happinefs in the an- 
 gelic WorW, than if Sin and Mifery had been for 
 ever unknown. For if their Holinefs and Happi- 
 nefs be only an Hundred Times greater now, on the 
 prefent Plan, than otherwife it would have been, 
 and if we allow for the Happinefs Satan and 
 his Adherents \o?iy and for the ftlifery which they 
 undergo, yet what remains mud be many Millions- 
 more in the whole, than it otherwife would have 
 been. * And only let us realize what muft have 
 
 been 
 
 ■*' The Truth of this may Be caflly (cen, thus Suppofc 
 
 the Number of Angels to be 3-. — and all remaining inno- 
 cent to haveoneDcgrec of Holinefs andHappInefs a-picce ; 
 J ihe Sum totnl would be 5 Degrees of Hdinefi and Hap- 
 
 I pinefs. But if one falls, and the oiiier two iacreafe In 
 
 Holinefs and Happinefs an hundred Fold, then tiie Sum- 
 
 total of Holirefs and Happinefs will be 200 Degrees 
 
 But if the Mifery of the Damned is augmented in the 
 ^' Jime Proportion as the Happinefs of the BlcfTed, then tiic 
 ^' JViifery of one loft Angel will be 100 Degree? — befidet 
 • the Happinefs he loft, which v/as fuppofcd to be i De- 
 gree Now therefore fubflrafl loi, from 200, and 
 
 Hf the Remainder wil! be 99 ; tkat Is, there \xlll be 99 Dc- 
 
 ri grces of Happiners left. And if tliis will be ibt: Cafe» 
 
 tr v/^re the Number of the Angels fnppofed to be 3., it wil} 
 
 »i a'fo proportionabiy in any given Number So that it 
 
 t!:ere arc but halt fo many goodAn^sls, as t! crc are now 
 
in the Permljjion of 5i:f. 
 
 M> 
 
 been the Refle(5>ions of the holy Angels, fromTim;: 
 to Time, as new Scenes have opened to their V^icv, 
 and what their Reflexions muft eternally be, whea 
 they have feen Cjod's grand Plan finiftied at the Day 
 of Judgment \ and we cannot doubt but that their 
 Humility, Holinefs and Happinefs will be augment- 
 ed at lead: an Hundred fold. 
 
 I. Reflections of the cle(5l Angels on the un- 
 reafonable Rebellion, the unexpet^led f'all, the evcr- 
 lafting Punithment of Satan and his Legions, once 
 their Companions in Blifs. 
 
 " How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, Son of the 
 
 «« Morning 1 From ftanding near the Throne of 
 
 *' God, into an eternal Hell \ Yefterday joinin'r wirii 
 
 *' us in the Songs of Heaven ; now under the ever- 
 
 *' laftino; Difpleafure of God, banilhed to endlcls 
 
 •' Woe^l '' Hovr 
 
 fjppcfed to be of Manklrxl Inhabiting the Earth, yet the 
 
 clcir Gain will be above 96 Hundred Millions of Degree* 
 
 of Ha.ppinefs» more than if all had flood ; as will appcar 
 
 froni the fi»Uowing TaMe. 
 
 K. H. The Number of the prefent Inhabitants of the Earth 
 
 is fuppofed to be 729 Millions 1 will fuppofe tire 
 
 Number of ^ood Angels to be only 300 MiHions, whiuk 
 is Icfs than Half. 
 
 If all had (tood. 
 
 Number of 
 
 Angels fup- 
 
 (poftd. 
 
 On the prefent Plan. 
 
 3 - - • 
 
 30 - - - 
 
 |00 - - - 
 
 3 00 Millions 
 
 Proportionable! 
 Degrees of j[ 
 Happiaefs. ) | 
 
 Nuraber of 
 
 Angels Tup- 
 
 (pofed. 
 
 Proportionable 
 Degrees of 
 Hp.ppinefs. 
 
 99 - - 
 990 - - 
 
 990^ - - 
 
 9900 MihioM 
 
 9900 Millioni 
 300 Millions 
 
 j»r" 
 
 Remainder '9600 Mill<on- 
 Cicifcr Gar 
 
 J 
 
14^ ?7^ Wisdom cf Goi 
 
 «< How durft you rife in Rebellion aga»n(l Hca- 
 ♦< ven*s glorious Monarch ! And how infinitely 
 «' vile the Ihocking Deed ! What more reafonabic 
 «« than to pay fupremeHonour to the TuprcmeBeing, 
 «' and to be in Subjedion to the Autlior and Lord 
 *' of all Things, lo whom the Throne belongs, 
 *' and exult in his Supremacy, and rejoice in Him 
 *« and in his Government I Or wliat more vile and 
 *« ungrateful, than to turn Enemies to the great 
 «' Being, the Author, Proprietor and Governor of 
 " all created Intelligences, and to attempt to over- 
 '' turn ail Order and Harmony in the SyHem I — ■ 
 ^' For fuch exalted Intelligences, in fuch a happy 
 «• Situation, under fuch great Obligations to th« 
 " Deity for Bounties already received, attended v.ith 
 *' the Profpect of endlefs Joys in his Prefcnce, to 
 *' rife in Rebellion thus ! No wonder, Heaven's 
 almighty Monarch, in Regard to his ownHonour 
 and the Good of his Kingdom, has baniflied 
 ^* them from his Prefence, and defined them to be 
 -' everlafting Monuments of his Wrath. 
 
 " But, Oh how unexpecfled, furprifing and 
 fhocking are thefe dreadful Scenes I And is it fo ? 
 And are they fallen ? Who could have thought 
 it !--.-Such hoiyBeings,to rife in Rebellion againit 
 INFINITE Holiness ! — So good aTafte forOrder 
 and Harmony, and yet have broke the Orders 
 of Heaven ! So l\rong Inducements, from Duty 
 and Intereft to perfevere, that one would have 
 ** thought fuch an Apoftacy quite impoflible ! And 
 •' are they fallen ? For ever tallen and loft 1"^ 
 
 " And what are we I Were we better than they ? 
 
 *^ Or did we Aand hrmer ? Or were we more out 
 
 of Danger ? Or more on our Watch ? No, m 
 
 no wife. — It once feemed impcfiible weHiould fa]}. 
 
 '* But now we are furprifed to fee we fiand.— And, 
 
 * Oh who knows what another Day may brinp 
 
 4: \ *' forth 1- 
 
in the fermtjfion ef Sli^* I47 
 
 " forth !— We are as likely to be in Hell to-mor- 
 *' row, as they were Yei^erday ! — God is no more 
 *' obliged to keep us, than he was them.— And 
 *' vrha^ if we Ihould fall ! Oh how dreadful, how 
 «' inhnitcly dreadful the Thought !— -We will all 
 *' go and fall proQrate before the Throne of the 
 *' great Immutable ; and cry, O Father of our 
 *' Spirits y of thy fiver£ignGrac<y keep us, we humbly 
 
 «' pray thee, Nor will we ever forget what we 
 
 *' have feen. Nor will we cvcrceafe tow»tch and 
 « pray." 
 
 2. Reflections of the EIe(5l Angel's on the 
 Temptation of Satan, and P'all of Man. 
 
 " Oh the hellilh Pride and Spite and Malice of 
 ♦* Satan, once ourCompanion in Blifs \ How glatHjr 
 *• would he ruin the whole Syftem, were it in his 
 ** Power, and even overturn the Throne of Hca- 
 •< yen's eternal King !— 'How wicked a Deed hath 
 *« Man committed ! and how righteous the Doofn 
 •* of our glorious Monarch I All who rebel agalnft 
 ** him, deferve to be turned out of his World, 
 *' ind lie under his everJafting Difplcafure.— — 
 *' But what an infinite Weight of Vengeance 
 *' doth Satan deferve ! We rejoice, the Almigh- 
 *' ty hath decreed to bruife his Head, and fruf- 
 ** trate all his Schemes,and bring Salvation toMan. 
 « We rejoice,that the Lord God omnipotent reign- 
 " eth^and will for ever reign. 
 
 '* OH THOU, who only art immutahle^ behold^ Men' 
 *' is fallen ! Weprojlrate ourjelves at thy Feet. O ke p 
 '' tfj, of thy mere fovereign Goodnefsy we mo ft earnejily 
 ** and tiumhly do hefsech thee ! IVe claim no Right to fuck 
 '' a Favour^ Our felloiv-Creatures inHeaven^andncw 
 *' on Earthy are fallen^ Thy Throne is guiltlefs. But^ 
 ** thouFatber of Spirits ^ keep uSy of thy mere fovereign 
 ** Grace, thro' our Strrte of Trial, to the everiafting Ho^ 
 ^ mur of thy great i^amt : that^ thrS eternal Ages, we 
 
 *' may 
 
14^ The VfisDO}.i of Goi 
 
 " may celebrate thy Pra'fes.—In ihe Revelatkn of thy 
 *' P^figns of Mercy toivards falkn Man^ tve fee the 
 *' infiute Gocdmfi of thy Nature^ and that thou can/} 
 *' have Mercy o?i luhcm thou wilt have Mercy, and at 
 " the feme Time fecme the Honour of thy Government. 
 *' IVe flee to thy fovercign Goodnefs for prefer vingGract^ 
 " nor vjill lie ever forget what we haze Jcen^ hor will 
 *' we ceaf to watch and pray. '^ 
 
 3. Reflections of the cleftAngels ontheDcatk 
 of Chrili. — Attentive Spe<5>ators on this folercm 
 Occafion, no doubt,ahho' invilible to the furround- 
 ing, infuJting iMuhirude. 
 
 "■' This is he, who brought theUniverfe intoEbc- 
 *' iftencf, and is worlhipped by all the HoUs of 
 *' Heaven ! This is he, vvlvo appeared to Abraham 
 *' ?.nd to Mofes, gave the Law on Mount Sinai, and 
 •^ dwelt in the Jewin^i Temple ; then in the Form 
 ** of God, nav/ in the Form of a Servant : Jefm of 
 ** Nazareth^ the King cf the Jews / And tljis gives «s 
 •* higher Conceptions of the divine Goodncls,than 
 •' €vcr before entered into our Hearts. That after 
 *' Mankind had continued 4C00 Years in obftinate 
 *'^ Rebellion, and given Millions of Inflances of an 
 *-' inveterate Enemity againil our almighty Sove- 
 ** icign, -yet he can thuj freely give his Son 
 •' to diefor them!~-But, Oh theHelhfliTemper of 
 •* the furrounding Crouds, inlulting the Son o\ God 
 ** in his lall Agonies ! Pulhed on by Satan, who 
 ♦* knows vvhat they arc doing, altho' they do not. 
 '^'' And thus Satan will treat the God who made him : 
 ** This is liis Heart. Oh what is there he would 
 ** not do, had he Power on his Side ! No Wonder 
 •* he is doomed to eternal Woes. Hell is Ins pro- 
 •' per Place. — And fuch might we now have been, 
 ** if God had left us to fall when they did. Oh the 
 •'• fovereign (^racc of God to us ! PreferVed to this 
 *' Dz^j iii ourliitegrity i Oh th-c dreadfuiNature i>f , 
 
in ths Pcrmijjton of Sn^, 1^9 
 
 ** S^.n ! Oh the ruined State of a guilty WorlcU fc - 
 ** tluced by Satan, Ihould Jufiice uk-^ Place ' But 
 •* here hangs liieir expiatory Sacrifice .: the Son of 
 *' God dying in their Room ! The whole inti'ili- 
 *' gt?nt Syftem now fees how God hates Sin : and 
 •' how refolved he is, as Governour ot theUniverfe* 
 •' to bear ample Tellimony againft it. Not one of 
 •* the guiUy Race of Adam will he pardon, unlets 
 •* his Son die in their Stead, TheCTrcatntfi of the 
 ** Atonement fli.^ws how great He thinks the 
 ** Crime. Jf all the anp^elic World had been offer- 
 *' cd as a Sacrifice of Atonement, it had been inii- 
 ** nitely beneath this. Yea, compared with this, it 
 *' had been Nothing^and lefs thanNothing andVa- 
 •* nity. Oh the inhnite Evil of Sin ! O the infinite 
 •* Greatnefs of God ! How does the f^eath of his 
 •* Son fhew him to be infinitely exalted I None 
 ** fit to mediate between Him and fuiful Men, but 
 '* his Son I Nor any Blood precious enough to 
 •* make Atonement but hi6 ! — Nor can Satan, wn- 
 •* der all his Woes, thro' eternal Ages, ever once 
 ** think, that he is punilhed in a fovcreign, defpo- 
 ** tic, arbitrary Manner : much lefs can fuch a 
 •* Tliought ever enter into our Hearts in Heaven, 
 ** while we behold the Lamb in the midft of the 
 •* Throne, and remember how he was treated by 
 •* )us Father, when once he flood in the Room of 
 •' Sinners. Nay, now we are more fully convinced 
 •* than ever, thit Sin really defervcs the eternal 
 •* Punilhment, which God will inflict. Oh the 
 •* infinite Evil of rifmg in Rebellion ajain-t tfie in- 
 •* finitely glorious and almighty Monarch of the 
 •' UnivcVfe, the Maker and I^rd of all ! Oh whnt 
 •* an infinite Kmdnefs, that God has kept us from 
 ** -this infinite Evil ! Our Obligatums to him, how 
 ** are they infinitely iiicreufed ! And after all this, 
 ** for us ever to turnApoilates,Oh how unutterably 
 
 •* dreadful'. 
 
15» T2^ Wisdom of Goi 
 
 ** drea^ul, quite inflnitcly dreadful the Thought! 
 «* -r — It when the bon of God arifes from the 
 *' Dead, afcends to Heaven, and fits down en the 
 *' right Hand of the Majefty on higli,and becomes 
 *' Head over all the Saved from among Men, ia 
 *' vshom they will be for ever fafe, whofe Immu- 
 •* tability will render th&m immutable in Good- 
 «' nefs forever,0 if he might become ourHead too! 
 *' How infinittiy great would be the Favour of 
 *< God in this, nor fhould wc ev-er forget the Frec- 
 «' nefs of God'i> Grace." • 
 
 4. R^FLECTlOKs 
 
 * And if on the Exaltatton of Chrift, the EieA Angels 
 were confirmed, it is cafy to fee, how they would na- 
 turally be a Thoufand (if not aiMillion) limes more fcB- 
 Cble of the Great nefs and Freenefs of the Goodncfs aad 
 Crace of God cxercifed towards them, than if they and 
 all others had been immediately confirmed at tlieir firft 
 Exiftcnce. — ^That Chrift is to-be Head -ef Angeh, as 
 veil as of Saints, fecms to be int.mite-d in Eph, i. 10. 
 That in the Dif pen fat ton of 4 he Ful-nefs of Time ft ht 
 tni^ht gather together in one all Things in Chrifi, both 
 nuhich are in Heaven^ and nvhich are an Earthy even in 
 %im. And perhaps the Confirmation of the EJcft Argels 
 is what the /^polUe refers to in Col. I. 19, 20. For it 
 plea fed the Father, that in 'him all Fuh;efs fljould dnveUy 
 mnd by him to reconcile all Things to hinfelf by hitn^ I 
 fay, nuhether they be Things in Earth, or Things in Kea- 
 
 ^fi.' And 'lis certain, th<a they receive great Inftra^ion 
 
 from God's VVorks here on Eurth. 7 hey behdd ihe 
 mihrJe Earth full of the Glory of the Lord, Ifai,Vl. 3. 
 And 'tis certain, God defigned they ftK)uld. And that he 
 Jkas" ©rdered Things as he has, to the Intent, that wit9 
 Principalities and Po^'ers in he.nerJy Places might he 
 knoivn by the Church the vianifold IVifdom of Cod. Eph^ 
 ill. 10. And 'tis equally certain, ihcy are very >ittcntive. 
 For ihcfc arc Things, which the Angels dejhi to look 
 mto, I Pit* I. X2. Aad they hare the beft Adyaatuges 
 
in the PenniJJiQft 0/ Siff, fjt 
 
 4. Reflections of the elecft Angels on Ihc De- 
 \ru6lion of Antichri'l, and on the Millennium. 
 
 " Now at Length an End is come to the long 
 =« Series of Mifchief, which hath been wrought by 
 •' that furiousDragon, that fubtle old Serpent, onCc 
 •« a glorious Angel, now of a long Tiine a Devil. 
 •' Behold, he is bound, and fliut up, and C3n deceive 
 " the Nations no more ! Behold, Babylon theGreat 
 ««• is fallen, is fallen ! Hallelujah ! Salvation and 
 <« Giory, and Honour, and Power, unto the Lord 
 <* our God ; for true and righteous are his Judg- 
 es mcnts. Hallelujah! for the Lord God- om.nipo- 
 <« tent reigneth. And, lo, all his Foes fall betore 
 <« him, unable to refill: : and the Marriage of the 
 " Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made herlelf 
 " ready. And now Chrift (hall reign on Earth a 
 »* thoufand Years, and all Nations lliail fervehim, 
 <' and all the People fhall be holy, and all (hail 
 « know him, from the leafl: to the greatell, and the 
 <' Earth fliall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, 
 «* as the Waters fill the Seas, till the faved of the 
 " Lord be as the Stars of Heaven, and as the Sand 
 ** on the Sea-Shore, innumerable. Hallelujah! 
 
 This grand Event, which to Satan is Matter 
 ' of fo great Confufion and Anguifh, is to us 
 
 Matter of the greateft Joy. And yet once SatJrti 
 
 *' and his Holls were all of our Number, and we 
 
 *' fang the Praifes of God together. — Oh the fur- 
 
 O prizing 
 
 for a large Acquaintance wuh thefc Things, ss i/^er a^e 
 miniJiringS pir it s ,f cut forth to minijicr tothoje <whoJ7ja'!ke 
 Hf'irs of Salvation. Heh. 114. And they deeply intereil 
 themfclves in aJl God's Difpenfations towards theChurch 
 on Earth, as is evident from the Book of the Revelation 
 thro'out. — And they will attend JefusChrill when he come* 
 to jttd,'Te the World, and fee God's grand Plan finifhed, 
 and Things in God's Kingdom brought to a fm»l Seulc- 
 r/)vf ' :CXV. 31, -46. 
 
 c 
 
1 5- TX,^ Wisdom of God 
 
 ^' prizing Change Sin hath wrought ! — Oh the dlf- 
 ^' tinguiftiing Grace of God, which kept us froin 
 " falHng too, on that dreadful Day of Satan's Re- 
 " volt ! A Day by us never to be forgotten. — Now 
 " Satan lies chained in the bottomlefs Pit. And 
 *' we are in Triumph, on the Occailon, around the 
 " Throne." 
 
 5. On Chrift's fecond Coming. «' BehoId,he 
 
 *' Cometh in the Clouds of Heaven, and every Eye 
 " fhall fee him, and they that pierced him fliuU 
 ** mourn ; and the bold and haughty, who once 
 *' bid him Defiance, fliall call to the Mountains iind 
 *' Rocks to fall on them and cover them ; the Crvfh / 
 '* of Mountains being lefs dreadful, than the Wrath 
 " 6f the Lamb. And now fliall the Scene clofe, 
 " and the Ways of God to Men and Angels be ail 
 " juftified : And God ihall receive Glory from ail 
 ^« nis Works. 
 
 " See, yonder cometh Satan, with all his guilty 
 «« Hoft, trembling, to appear before the Bar. — Oh 
 *' never let us forget the Day, when they fang the 
 *' Praifes of God with us before the Throne ! How • 
 ** iurprifed were we at their unexpedted Revolt ! 
 '* We then little tho't what was before us : little 
 ** guelTed what was in the Creature's Heart, or in 
 *' God's Heart. But now we have feen both : 
 *' And now we fee the Refult. God is exalted, his 
 *« Authority eftablifhed ; Satan and his Hoft are 
 *' conquered, and are now to be fent away into 
 " cverlafting Puniftiment. — And,but for the diftin- 
 ** guifhmg Grace of God, which has always held 
 *' us up, we might now have been as they now are, 
 *' No Heart can conceive, no Tongue can ex- 
 " prefs, the infinite Obligations we are under to 
 *' God. Of whom, and by whom, and to whom 
 ** are all Things : to whom belongs Glory tor ever 
 *' and ever. Amen. 
 
 <* No\v 
 
;/; the Permijjion of Si5r. J jj-j 
 
 *' Now, therefore, let eternal Ages be by us all 
 *' employed in contemplating God's glorious 
 *' Works, in admiring the Wifdom ot all his Ways, 
 <' revering the dread Majefly of the Univerfe, mag- 
 " nifying and extolling his great Name, exultirig 
 *« in his Supremacy, and celebrating the Praifes of 
 *' his free and boundlefs Goodnefs." 
 
 It is eafy to fee, how natural it muft be for the 
 Elec^ Angels to make thefe and fuch-like Reflccli- 
 ons on thefe Occafions. And it is as eafy to ii^ 
 how the Knowledge of God and of themfelves in- 
 crckfcs their Humility, their Dependence on God, 
 their Reverence, Love, Gratitude, and Joy, /. e. their 
 iioiinef> and Happinefs. And it i^ eafy to fee, hov/ 
 the Fall of Angtls and Men, and God's Conduct: 
 on thefe Occafions, gives them tlufe new Idea's of 
 themfelves and of God. Had Sin and Mifery never 
 entered into God's World, they could never have 
 
 lia.l thefe Idea's of themfelves, or of God And 
 
 if what has been faid of the Angels, may be applied 
 to Mankind, as for Subllance we fee it may, and 
 thit too with fome additional Circumllances or great 
 Weight, as will appear in the next Serrncn, thea 
 this will be the Sum of the Argument — 
 
 So clear and fo adequate an Idea of God ^nd 
 themfelves could not have been obtained by iinite 
 Intelligences, thro' eternal Ages,had Sin aad Mifcry 
 never entered into God's World. 
 
 But the more clear and adequate their Idea of 
 God and themfelves, the more humble, holy and 
 luppy will the Inhabitants of Heaven be, and the 
 moie will God be exalted. — And thar, in fuch a fu- 
 perior Degree, as that more Honour will redound 
 to God, and more Humility, Holinefs and Happi- 
 neis be in the Syftem, than if Sin and ^.lifery had 
 b^en torever unknown. 
 
 O 7 Now 
 
>5'4 ^^^ Wisdom •f God, &c. 
 
 Now, if God's prefentPJan is in the bcftMannfcr 
 fuited to honour God, and to increafe theHumility, 
 Holinefs and Happincfs of the Syfiem, tlien is l\is 
 Wifdom vindicated.-— For Wifdom confilts in pro- 
 pofing the beft Ends, and choofing the beft Means 
 for their Accompli fliment. — And thus God's Con- 
 duct in liis grand Plan is analogous to his Conduct 
 in \\\t four hijlames mentioned in ihc fitji bermon : 
 #nd the fame Reafons which vindicate hi$ Wifdom 
 i« them^ vindicate him ia i\ii%* 
 
 |>j=<X;:-O<^0<XKX>*<>t^^>>'XX>iXX> 
 
 ^><x><K>i>cs>^<:^<>0<><>< xx><>c<>*oc<xx>o^-:>«# 
 
 SERMON 
 
^^■>;x.-<x:.xx>s:x>;xxxxxx;.<><><Kxxxxxx>o;x^ 
 
 The Wisdom of God 
 
 in the Permiffion of Sin. 
 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 Genesis L. 20. 
 TE thought Evil aga'iuj} Me j but God 
 
 in 
 
 cant It unto Good- 
 
 IF the holy Scriptures are read over, and viewed 
 in the Chara6ter of axWr^^/u-^, we (hail find tlie 
 Hi/lory of the Deity ^ and the Hijfoiy htanan Na- 
 ture interwovtn throughout, from the Beginning of 
 Genefis to the End of the Rtuelation ^ii'Wng up by far 
 the greateft Part of thofe facred Pages. Here we 
 fl^aU fee the bright and glorious Characfter of the 
 Deity, drawn in a moft livelv and ftnking Manner, 
 in an authentic Account, written by God's ownDi- 
 re(5tion, of his Conduif from the Beginning of the 
 World :. And at the fame Time, human Nature 
 piinted to tb.e Life, in the Behaviour or Mankind, 
 
 thro' a long Succeffion of Ages. x^nd this Book 
 
 God puts into our Hands, as the bed Means to 
 
 form us to Views and Tempers fuitable to the hct^- 
 
 Ysnly VVorid.— And why ?— Why fuch a Book, for 
 
 O 3 fuch, 
 
 Jj 
 
V5^ The Wisdom of Gol 
 
 fuch an End ?— Plainly, becaufe the Knowledge of 
 God and of our felves is of the lail Importance to 
 
 the Hoiinefs and Happinefs of that World And 
 
 indeed, on our flrideli Rcfearches into Things, we 
 Ihali find, that our highefl: moral Reditude, Perfec- 
 tion and Happinefs, mufl: arife from, and confilt in 
 an enlarged, clear, lively View of God and our felves, 
 and an anfwerablePVame of Heart. Let us viewGod 
 as he is, and ourfelves as we be, as nearly \\\ the 
 fame Light that God does, as our finite Capacities 
 will admit, and have an anfwerablef rame of Htart ; 
 and we are at the Top of that moral Perfedion and 
 
 Happinefs we are capable of. And if therefore 
 
 God's great and univerfal Plan is {o contrived, as 
 to put intelligences under the belt poffible Advan- 
 tages for this, tlien it is the betl Plan poflible. We 
 Lave before entered on this glorious 1 heme. And 
 ktthefe I'hings be now confidercd, for the further 
 lUuflration of the SubjedL 
 
 I. Nothing can be known of God, by created 
 Intelligences, be their Talk for divine Knowledge 
 ever fo good, and their Capacities ever fo great, any 
 further than God manifefts himfelf. For it is be- 
 yond the Power of any finite Intelligence to loolc 
 immediately into God's Heart, as we can into our 
 own, and view and contemplate \\\t divine Perfec- 
 tions as they are in tlie divine Elfence. Yea, we 
 can have no Idea at all of the divine Eflence. Yea, 
 we ran h.ave no Idea even of the Eflence of our 
 ov;n Souls The utmoft we can do, by Way of 
 immediate Intuition, is to perceive our Thoughts, 
 2nd thence difcern the habitual Inciinations of our 
 Hearts, hw:}'. if we could look into Clod's Eflence, 
 and fee all his Thoughts, we might thence learn 
 l.is Nature, without any Maniftltation whatfoever. 
 We might know God's Heart, by immediate Intui- 
 tion, as We can cur own. But this is abfolutely 
 
 impoHiblc' 
 
/// the Permif^n cf Si}^, s^y 
 
 impofTible. We carjnol look into the Hearts of 
 our FcilowCreatures: much leis can wt into God's 
 Heart. Neither God's Thoughts, nor any ot his 
 Views, nor any of his Defigns could ever have been 
 known, had he given n ) Manner of Manifedation 
 of himfelf. Thole Thoughts and Purpofes in his 
 Heart which he has not manifefted, cannot be found 
 out. Greatnefs of Genius is no Help in this Cafe. 
 Sir I faac Newton could not tell when the Day of 
 Judgment would be,fooner than the greate(\ Idiot. 
 Yea, as God had not revealed it, fo of that Day and 
 Hour kmzv 7io Man ; no^ not iJye Angels^ neither the Sony 
 but the Father only. Alar. XII. 32. Even the Man 
 Chrii\ Jefus, now in his exalted State in Heaven, 
 cannot 'ook into the divine EiTence, and fee the 
 fecret Thoughts in God's Heart. If he comes to 
 the Knowledge of thefe Secret*,it is by divine Com- 
 munication : as is plain from Rev. 1. i. The Revela- 
 tion of Jefus Chrift^ which God GAVE unto Him, /And 
 if the moii exalted Crearure,bv immediate Intuition, 
 cannot look into God's Heart, fo much as to difcern 
 one fingle Thought^ then nothing can be known of 
 God this Way. — In a Word, neither the Beina; of 
 God, nor more nor iefs of any of his PerfecStions, 
 could ever have been known, had there been abio- 
 Jutely no Evidence at all of liis Being, or o{ any of 
 his PerfeCfions : but ko Evidence ever was had', or 
 ever can be had in this Cafe, but what originally 
 comes from him : therefore nothing can be known 
 of God, any fuit'ier than he, fome how or other, 
 makes it evident to his Creatures. Which is what 
 1 mean, by his manitelling himfelf. Therefore, 
 
 2. As ail the Idea's of God,W!v.ch a e according 
 to Truth, in the whole in-eJiigent Syltem, originally 
 flow from the Manit'ellation which he makes of 
 himieif J fo the tsore dearly and fully he manifeil-s 
 h!raie;t5 the^reater Advantaj^es will there 'w'ternally 
 P 4 be. 
 
Ij8 The WiSDOxM of Cod 
 
 be, to make fwift Progrefs in Knowledge,HumilIty, 
 liijlintfs and Ha-ppinefs. Intelligences, who areh- 
 nite, can never have an adequate Idea of him wha 
 . is infinite. Their Knowledge may increafe, and 
 ' their V^cws brighten eternally. And the greatec 
 • their Advantages are, the fwifter will be their Pro- 
 greis i fuppofing their Tafte for divine Knowleiigc 
 to be good. He that is now the lowcft, may, Mii- 
 lioiis of Ages hence, be much higher inAttainmcnts, 
 than he that is now the higheft, among all the hea- 
 venly Hods. Mean while, tbofe glorious Chiefs 
 may be ilill advanced, almaft infinitely,before them. 
 But wiule all Ranks in Heaven are thus rifing in 
 ' the Knowledge of God, and in all divine Attain- 
 , ments, eternally rifing ; yet they can never com- 
 L prehend him who is abfolutely infinite. He is 
 } l\i]l infinitely above them : and they are as Nothing 
 ': and Vanity, compartd with him. Their Convi6\ioa 
 oFthis wiii eternally increafe : and fo their Humi- 
 lity eternally &roA^ : and God be for ever exalted 
 higher and higher in their View. Which will caufe. 
 ♦'^':'ir Love to his glorious Majefty, Joy in his Supre- 
 cy,and Happincis in him and in hisGovernment^ 
 
 Tor ever to augment. And if their Progrefs will 
 
 .be in Proportion to their Advantages, i. e. inPropor- 
 tian to the Manifefiations God makes of himfelf,. 
 then the fulkr and bri2;hter the divine Manifefiati- 
 ons, the fwifter their Progrefs.— Of two Intelligen- 
 ces, of equal Tafle and Capacity, it is poflible, that 
 one, by having a thoufand Times greater Advanta- 
 ges, may make a thoufandTiraes greaterProfic.icncy 
 
 than the other, in the fameTim.e. Let an Int^el- 
 
 ligence»of equal Tafle and Capacity with the Ang^- 
 
 Gahritl, be creiitcd on the Morning of the Driy oi 
 
 . Judgment, and be placed in fome remote Parts of 
 
 [ infinite Space, at a Dil^ance from tlie whole pnfent 
 
 \ Creation, aijd fpend that Day in foiltary Contcm- 
 
 |3lation;5 
 
in the Permijjion of SiN. 1$^ 
 
 plation, without any Advantage to gain the Know- 
 ledge ot* God^but what muft neceflarily refultfrom 
 its awn Exiftence and Powers ; and let Gabriel the 
 fame Day defcend from Heaven with Chrift, and be 
 a Spectator of all the Tranfa6\ions of that folemn 
 Seaibn ; and it is eafy to fee, thatGabriel muft gaia 
 a Thoufand, or ten Thoufand, or rather perhaps a 
 Million Times more Knowledge of the Nature of 
 God, the moralGovernor of the World, than that fo- 
 litary Spirit.— So Mofes, in about fix Months (viz. 
 from the Time he faw the burning Bulh, to the 
 End of the twice fortyDays he w^as on Mount Sinai) 
 doubtlefs gained more Knowledge of God, than he 
 had all hisLife iong'before, i. e. more in fixMonths^ 
 than in eighty Years. 
 
 As God has formed finite Iri^lligences capable of 
 Improvements thro' eternal Ages ; fo it is reafona- 
 ble to expe(5t, that he will provide thofe who (hall 
 be the Objedts of his everlafting Favour, with the 
 beft Advantages to make a fwift Progrefs. And 
 that Plan will in this Refpedl be judged the be(i, 
 that is moH: fuited to this End. That Plan, there- 
 fore, of all polTibie Plans, muft in this Refpecf be the 
 be(f, in which is given the fuMeft and the brightelt 
 Manifeftation of all the divine Perfedtions. 
 But, 
 
 3. The Apoftacy of Aneels and Men has given 
 the moral Governor of the Univerfe an Opportu- 
 nity to fet all his moral Perfeftions in the cleared 
 and moft ftriking Point of Light ; and, as it were, 
 to open all hisHeart,totheView of finicelntelligences. 
 
 The vvhole intelligent Syftem now may fee,whafr 
 Go'd thinks to be his Due from his Creatures, and 
 bow jealous he is of the Rights of the Godhead, 
 ai%d how refolved to maintain the Honour of his 
 Authority and Government. — And now the whole 
 Sydcm may fee too, that, as ke is God of Gods, 
 
 and 
 
I So The WiSDCiM of Goi 
 
 ' and Lord of Lords, the original Proprietor of all 
 Things, fo he thinks it belongs to him, without the 
 Advice or Leave of his Creature6, according to the 
 Counfei of his own Will, to lay out that Plan which 
 feems heft in his own Eyes ; and to do what he 
 thinks beft to do; and to forbear what he thinks 
 hti\ to torbear ; to bring fuch Intelligences into Be- 
 ing as he thinks beft i and having faid and done 
 
 i what he thinks bell, to forbear to fay or do any more, 
 and ftand by and let them take their Courl'e : prac- 
 tically faying, " They owe themfelves to me : I 
 " owe them nothing." And if they fall, he holds 
 
 'C himfeif at Liberty to proceed with,and punilh them 
 
 ■ finclly according to Law, without any Micigation, 
 * the Law behig exactly right : fo that it is Matter 
 . of mere fovereign Gmcc, to grant Relief to any ; a 
 I Thing he may do, or not do, as he pleafes, for 
 '"'aught he owes to them. Yea, he holds himfelf 
 '■ bound to do nothing for their Relief, but in a Way 
 
 ( that fhall be honourable to his Law. Never- 
 
 " tlielcfs, while he ftiews fucli a Ready Regard to 
 , his own Honour, and fo inflexibly adheres to the 
 
 ■ Rights of theGodhead, as by Office he is bound, be- 
 ing moral Governor of" the Univerfe ; at the lame 
 
 ■' Time, the whole Sydcm may fee too, that hisGood- 
 nefs is as boundlefs as his Nature. But thtn he 
 '-( loves his Creatures ihould know howtheCafe really 
 ^ fiands J that the Rights ot the Godhead ought net 
 i to be given up, and that the Excrcifes ol his Good- 
 linefs are abfolutely free : That while they view 
 |1 Things in the fame Light he does, they may feel,as 
 
 he thinks it is fit they (liould, m iuch a Cafe* . 
 
 Hut 
 
 .* Unless Property be known and acknowledged between 
 Man and Vlan, and the Boundaries fixed, thrre can be no 
 R-Oom for theKxercifs of Generofity If myEftatc is none 
 of mine, then it is net miae to give. If my Ncigl^bour* 
 
 may 
 
h the Perm'iJJlon of Sin. 1 6i 
 
 BatTime would fail, to hint at the various Idea's of 
 himfelfjwhich he has communicated inConfequence 
 of the grand Aportacy of Angels and Men. indeed, 
 he has given Alarei ials for Contemplation, that an 
 whole Erernity cannot exhauft. 
 
 The Picture of himfejf, whichGod has given and 
 will give,m hisCondu6t,from tlie Fall of Angels, to 
 the finalConfummation ot allThines,is glerioufly full 
 and compleat. He has been called to act in an infi- 
 nite 
 
 nay come and take, what, and uhen, he plcafes ; then 
 I have no Right to withhold anyThwg. My Neighbour 
 may julUy ihink. hardly of me, if I do : And will not 
 
 thank me, if I do not. But if I have anyXhing, which 
 
 I may call my own, and to which my Neighbour has no 
 Right, then he muft acknowlidfce, notwithdanding any 
 Cliim he ha" to make, I may dowhat I will with that. 
 As the HouJ})older in the Parable {Mat. XX. 15.) faid, 
 // // not laivful for me to do nxihat I 'will 'with mine cnvn^ 
 • — An<l if my Neighbour views my Property in the fame 
 Light that I do, then he will be apt to view my Gene- 
 rofity in the fame Light too. And what 1 offer as a free 
 Gift, he will receive and acknowledge as fach : and feel 
 as is fit. And it was abfolutely neceflary, that Pro- 
 perty fiiould be known and acknowledged, and the Boun- 
 daries fixed between God and his Creatures. And God, 
 by the Law he gave to his Creatures, as foon as created, 
 and by his Conduct fincc, has effeduilly done it ; Has 
 plainly faid, what was due from them to him : and as 
 
 plainly declared, that he owed them nothing. And 
 
 thefc Boundaries, fet up by God, were they but acceded 
 to,and acquiefced in byMan, the chief iMatters of Contro- 
 verfy between God and Man would be removed, and 
 Things would look fair for a Reccnciliatioi : But while 
 Man denies his Debt to God, and makes large Demands 
 on the Deity, there is no^Hope of an Accommodation. 
 For God will denolirti the Univerfe, fooner than give up 
 his juft Rights, in Favour ©f his rebellious Creatures, 
 ^lat, Y. 17. 
 
l6z The Wisdom of God 
 
 nite Variety cf Cafes ; and, to fpeakof him accord- 
 ing to the Language of Scripture, in the moft trying 
 Circumilances, (Read Ezek. XX. 5, — 22.) he has 
 been tempted and tried, not merely 40 Years in the 
 Wildernefs by tlie IlraeJites ; but from the Begin- 
 ning of the World to this Day, by every Nation, 
 Kindred, Language and Tongue. And has had 
 Opportunity to Ihew his Heart, by hisCondudl, in 
 all the inhniteVaritty of Cafes vhi-ch have ever hap- 
 pened, among the MilJio«s,and iVIillions of Millions 
 of Subjects, which he had to deal with. Ail which, 
 together with all that remains to be accomplilhed 10 
 the End ot the World, will be brought into View 
 snother Day, and ferve to make the Picture ef him- 
 felf, which he has given, very full and glorioufly 
 compleat, in the E^s ot all holy Intelligences. 
 
 Besides, his goat Work, to whi<:h all his 
 otherWorks beaf fomeRefpe(5f,is fo much like him- 
 it% that, in a Mi-nner, it gives his whole Picture at 
 
 once. An incarnate Gcd en the Crcfs, if the divine 
 
 Viev^'S, Motives and Ends are all conlidered, is a. 
 Piece or ConducSt, of which it may be faid, as it 
 was of him that was chief Acior in this Affair — It 
 IS the Brightnefs of God's Glory ^ ajid the exprejs Image 
 cf his Perjon, To create a World, was but a hnail 
 Matter with the Almighty. With a Word he 
 could bring Syftem afterSyltem into Behig,with infi- 
 nite Eafe. But the Work of Redcniption by tiie 
 Death of his Son, fetms to be a W^ork equal with 
 himfelf, and in which he has exprellL^d all hisHeart.* 
 
 ACTICNJ 
 
 ^ The Scripture Inforfx*.? us of no created Intelligence, be- 
 sides Angels and Men : much lefsdocs it attempt to Vaife 
 our Devotion by a -Contemplation of Millions of Globes 
 inhabited belides this our Earth. But according to Scrip- 
 tare, the Work of Redemption is God's great Wo: k ; and 
 from /y^//,chiefly,wc are to leamhij moral Charaderj- and 
 
 'tbn 
 
s/i fie PermJJlort of Sl^r. 1 6 j 
 
 Actions fpeak louder than Words. The divine 
 Conduct fcts his Pidure in a more ftriking, affect- 
 ing Point oF Light, than any mere verbal Defcrip- 
 tions could have done, had there been no Opportu- 
 nity for Conduct. When the Almighty adualiy 
 banifhed the finning Angers, from his Prefence, 
 down to eternal Darknefs and Woe, it fet his Cha- 
 ratfter in a much flronger Light, in the Eyes of the 
 Eled Angels, than his previous Threatning had 
 done. And when the Day of Judgment adlually 
 comes, and the whole Syftem are afTembled to fee 
 and hear, and give up their Account, and receive 
 their Sentence, it will be much more real than ever 
 it was before made to any of God's Creatures, by 
 any Defcriptions, or Imaginations they ever had. 
 And it will fet the divine PerlH^l^in a Light 
 proportionably clear, l^riking aiiJjHBhg. 
 
 Had all Tilings gone on llill aBpquiet in God's 
 Kingdom, there had been no OcCafic^ ^i^p r Oppor- 
 tunity for thefe Works, by v^hich all4Wl know that 
 he is the LoRD, and the whole S\^em be filled with 
 his Glory, "^ 
 
 Had the Poflerlty of Abraham lived quietly In th« 
 Land of Canaan, Sz multiplied there,for 47oYears, 
 the Canaanites dying off mean while, as the Indi- 
 ans do in America, they might have filled the Land 
 with a much greater Number of Inhabitants, thaa 
 P whea 
 
 thii are wcto contemplate, with the other Branches of hij 
 moral Government, as revealed in the Bible. And that 
 Love and Devotion, which arifcs from thefe fcriptural 
 Views of God and his Works, is the fcriptural Devotion, 
 and infinitely preferable to imaginary Tranfports. If our 
 Views of the Works of Creanoo, Providence and Redemp- 
 tion, are according to Scripture, we need not raifc Milli- 
 ons of imaginary Syftems of Intelligences, to inflame our 
 Hearts with a divine Fervor, nor have we the Example 
 Of oRc Saint in the Sibic to juftify fuch aa Attempt. 
 
1^ The Wisdom of God 
 
 when Jofliua brought them in, and no Jofeph fold, 
 no Infants drowned, no making Bricks, noCarcafes 
 left in the Wildernefs, and they Strangers to luch 
 great Changes, Trials and Sorrows ; but theti God 
 would not have had anOpportunity for anyof thofe 
 '.vonderful "Works which he wrought, whereby it 
 ivas knozvn that he was the Lord, and the whckLarih 
 zv as filled with his Glory, and a Foundation laid for 
 much Good to thatPeople, then, and in all fucceed- 
 ing Generations. Yea, to this Day, the whole 
 Church of God reap the Benefit of thofc wonderful 
 Works, which were recorded for our Inftru(5lion,on 
 \vhom the Ends of the World are come. 
 
 ,So, had Sin been for ever unknown in th'eSyflem, 
 there would have been noOpportunity for the migh- 
 ty Works wh^jjjjlpd has wrought, fmce the Day 
 he drove th^jPUKe Angels out of Heaven, and 
 our firil: Parenj£jjp of Paradife, and will yet work 
 to the Endaf Trnie, and linal Confummation of all 
 Things, .flitwhich put together, will give the moft 
 full and cotripleat, the moft clear and ftriking Pi.c- 
 ture of the divine Nature, for the Contemplation 
 and Inftrudioa of the Inhabitants of Heaven, thro' 
 eternal Ages. 
 
 4. While God forbears to intcrpofCi and hinder 
 the j^noftacy of finite Intelligences, being abfolutely 
 unobliged to fay or do any more than he had faid 
 and done ; and while, being left to their own free 
 Choice, a Number of the Angels in Heaven, and 
 Man upon Earth, rebel ; and being left to them- 
 felves, all the fallen Angels, and great Numbers of 
 fallen Men,go on in theirRebellion, acfling our their 
 Hearts, and exhibiting their Pi6ture in their Con- 
 du6V, thro' a long Succeflion of Ages ; they plainly 
 riiew what all finite Intelligences in Heaven and 
 ©n Earth might kave come to, if they had not been 
 |)reYcnted by the naere free Gr^ce of the only im- 
 
 snutable 
 
//; the Permijpon of SiN. 1 6^ 
 
 mutable Being. Meanwhile, God, as has been 
 faid, in his Conduct, fets his own Characler in the 
 cleareft and fulleft Light. And fo all holy IntelH- 
 gences will, thro' eternal Ages, have the Advanta- 
 ges of thefe two compleat Pictures ; the Pidure that 
 God has exlubited of himfelf, and the Pi(5\ure which 
 fallen Creatares have c^:hibited of themfelves, fa 
 ailift them to a clear View and realizing Senfe of 
 what God is, aid of what they might have been. 
 Jufl as the pious Jews in the earthly Canaan, when 
 they reviewed the Condudt of God towards their 
 Fore-fathers, and their ConduL^ towards him, had 
 the Picture of each before their Kyes, for their Jn- 
 Aruclion from Age to Age. Which leads me lo- 
 an:)ther Thought. 
 
 5. At the End of thefe forty ^aff, Mofes af- 
 fembles the whole Congregation «p, Ifra^l in thc- 
 Piains of Moab ; and, that they rmght be under 
 the better Advantages to reap tiVe i]enefif\>f all paft 
 •Tranfacf^ions, now juil: as they are entering into 
 the holy Land, he rchcurfcs a!l G(As Condua to- 
 wards them, and all theirCondudt tow'ards iiim,and 
 Jabours deeply to imprefs a Senfe of both on their 
 Hearts : So at the linaiConfummation-of allThinf^s, 
 the whole intel!ic!;ent Syftem will bealTcmbled, and 
 ail paft Things be opened, all God's Condu(^l to- 
 wards his Creatures, an,d aU their Condu6t towarvis 
 him ; and that in fuch a Manner, as will make Uic 
 deepeft Impreffions on all that great Aflembly. 
 
 But as this will be a mod folcmn Day, and per- 
 haps the moft important Day that ever did or ever 
 will happen, and a Day on which great I>ight will 
 be given to God's univerfal Plan ; fo It may not be 
 amii's to ftop here a- while, and confider, Who is t© 
 
 be the Judge and who Ihall be prefent in that 
 
 great Aflcmbly and what will be brought into 
 
 View— and what will be the linal Seatence prcnoi n^ 
 F 2 c.. 
 
X66 The Wisdom of Goi 
 
 ced on the Wicked— and what will be the virible 
 Conftcjuencc — and what the State of tlie Righteous 
 when all is over— and what mul\ be their Rtfledi- 
 cns upon the whole. 
 
 1. The MEssiAfi, the Son of God, the Seed of 
 ihe Woman, will be the Judge. So great was his 
 2^eal for the Honour of God, and Concern for the 
 t)alvation of loft Sinners, that he offered to under- 
 take to fruftrate Satan's Scheme \ and on theCrofs, 
 at t!ie Expence of his Life, he entirely dilconcerted 
 the Plan the Devil had laid, and fapped the Foun- 
 tlation of his Kingdom j opening a Way, in which 
 Glory might come to God, and Salvation to fallen 
 Man. "Which fo pleafed the eternal Father,that he 
 gave him, for his Reward, the very Thing hisHeart 
 was chiefly f^ €bon ; even, full Power and Autho- 
 rity, compleariy% accomplilh his Defign. Meffiah 
 took. theThrorfe, and, at the Headof theUniverfe, 
 conducted all Things from that Day and forward, 
 with his End in conftantView, till Satan's Kingdom 
 was deftroyed, and he liad reigned onEarth a thou- 
 sand Years. And having feen of the Travail of his 
 Soul to his Satisfadion, in the Recovery of a great 
 Multitude of the human Race, a Multitude like the 
 Stars of Heaven, and as the Sands on the Sea- Shore 
 innumerable ; now he comes to caufe ftrid Juftice 
 to take Place on all the obftinate Adherents to Sa- 
 tan's Intercft. Behold, he comcth in theClouds of 
 Heaven, and every Eye (hall fee him, and the fatal, 
 the finifhing Stroke (hall be laid full on tiieold Ser- 
 pent's Head Which fhall be done in the moft 
 
 public Manner. For 
 
 2. The whole intelligent Sy(\em (hallbe prefent. 
 The holy Angels, once Satan's Companions in 
 Heaven^ (hall now defcend in Glory and Joy, at- 
 tending the righteous Judge. And with them the 
 Saints fhaij come from the upperWorldjUnd receive 
 
 their 
 
/// the Penn'iJJton of Sh^. i ^7 
 
 their Bodiesjckr'ous and immortaK rr.ii*ed by their 
 a'mighty Savioui . Mean \^hlIe, the Saints onEnrtli 
 (hall be changed, and caught up to meet the Lr.rd 
 in the Air. Tiien Earth and Sea, Death and Hell 
 fhall give u[) theirDead ; and all Kindreds,Nations, 
 Languages and Tonguts, Ihall be gathered to the 
 Bar. And Sat.m and his Hofts, who of a longTiUie 
 have been in Chains^ rcferved to the Judgrrjent of 
 the great D.iy,lhall be forced, guilty and trembling, 
 to {land forth \n the Si^ht of the whole Creation. 
 And now, 
 
 3. The HlOory of the grand Rebellion (liall be 
 opened lo the View of the wl^iole intetliernt Crea- 
 tion : from the Day of Satan's hrft Revolt, his' 
 Kxpu'fion frorh Heaven, and Sedu^ton of the hu- 
 man Kind, w th all his Views and Motives, Ends 
 and Defi^ns, and the M-ithods by. him lak^n from 
 the P^oundation of his Kirigdom on Earth, to its 
 final De(tru.51ion : And how apoQare Men have 
 heai tily joined m his Inrereil ; and both, as it were, 
 combined together to defeat the Defigns of the 
 Redeemer. ^U^'^ 
 
 l^HE Blood of the Martyrs will fe brought into 
 the Account, from t'e Blood of righteous Abel, 
 to the Biood ot the laft Martyr that Ihall be (lain, 
 to evidence the obllinate Malice ot Satan and his 
 Ad'nerents : Who,.rather than that the R<deemer's 
 Kingdom (hould be fet up, have (I'lcd Rivers of 
 
 human Blood. Yea, the Son of God himfeif 
 
 has been pu»- to Death in this apoftate World. 
 
 All the-Condua of the human-Race before the 
 Fl'od, and how their Wlckednefs brought on the 
 general Deluge : and all the Condufl oi Mankind 
 fi ice ; together with the Mchnds of divine Grace 
 fr-^m th- Beginning of the World : — particularly, 
 the Callinij; of Ab''aham, snd ?!} the g'orious Me- 
 thods of diYine Grace with his Seed, from Age 10 
 P 3 Age. 
 
Age, till the Coming of the Mefliah : tog:ether wilk 
 their pervcrfeCondua inEgypt, in the WildernefSj 
 pud in the holy Land : tlicir kihing the Prophets, 
 'jnd ironing thofe who were fent unto them, and 
 Anally crucifying the Son of God, and obftinately 
 
 rejcaing his glorious Gofpel : And the Calling 
 
 ot the GentiJcs info the Chriihan Church,, their 
 J><©thnefs to leave t:heir Idols, the bloody Work 
 they made among the primitive Prc'eflbrs of Chrif- 
 ti-anity j— together with aHillory of the Rife StPro- 
 grefs and dreadful Deeds of the grand anticJiriftiani 
 /tpollacy, — will all be laid open topublic Vitw, ia 
 the Sight of the Creation. 
 
 A^:D not only thele great AiTairs, but alfo all 
 th'.' Conduct of particular S.iir e^s, it) every Age, 
 With every itcret Thing, (hail be brought to Light 
 ©n that great Day. 
 
 And whiie MeiTiah appears in all h*.Fathcr*$ 
 G ory, the Reafoniiblenefs of God*s Law and the 
 •ifinite Grace of the Gofpel will, by his vnyF^refeme^ 
 Le brought into |uch a clearView,in the Lyes of all 
 that great AiTembiy, as will not only flrike the 
 fallen Angels, who have been inveterate Enemies 
 to tlie righteous Government of God, and conftant 
 Oppofers of the gracious DclTgns of the Redeemer, 
 int(j the utmod Guilt and Confufion ; but alfo over- 
 "whehn with inexcufable Guilt and felf-condemning 
 Reproaches, all the ioit Sons of Adam, of every 
 Nation under Pleaven. 7 he Gentile will row (ttl 
 kimlelf Without Excujt., ic < recking the I aw of Na- 
 ture [Rom. L 20.) and -ie Jew and ihe ChriHiari 
 tr.uch more, who havr Gi mcl againfl greater Light 
 and defpifed inhniie (;jscc. v^o that every J^jotiih 
 tviii be /iopp'J^ 2L\\d -.1]] Saiaii's A-cflierents from a-. 
 Riong the hurnaii Race, will ft^nd guilty before God, 
 (RoftiAW. 19.) For, v,hen ihcL» rd ..^tneth w.ih all 
 his heavenly' AtttiiJairis, torxcc^ire j'./jrnient upon 
 
 o itin«ite 
 
//; the Vermlffion of Si!^. r5^ 
 
 ebftlnate Enemies, he will convince all, and filence 
 all, who have juiVified thcmi^'lvos,and fpjkea many 
 htti'd Speeches again ft him. {Jufie 14, 15) For taat 
 dial! not only be a Day of Wrath, but o^ the Reve- 
 latian of the righteous Judgment of God. (Rom. I J. 5.) 
 — Mean whue, all holy intelligences wiliib^ fully- 
 prepared, cordiiiy to*pprove, yea, heartily fo re- 
 joice in the final S-^nrence of the Jitdge. The 
 
 Forc-thdught of which dreadful Sentence wilj fill 
 Satan and all his mighty Potentates wirh Terror 
 unutterable.— — /Indth's Kings of the Earthy and the 
 great Men., and the. chief Captains., and the mighty A4en^ 
 who had met Armes in the Field of Battle, and' 
 looked Death in the Face undaunted, and every 
 Bond-Man.,and everyPree- M<Vi (hall w'lih \o hide them^ 
 jfilves in tJje Dens., and in the Rocks of the Mountains : 
 yea, they will wilh the Mountains and the Rocks to fall 
 on them., and hide them fiomthe PVraib of the Lamb, 
 (Rev. VI. 15. 16 ) 
 
 4, He fhall pronounce the Sentence, DrPARTy 
 ye curfed. To which, all the holy Angels and Saints,, 
 with divine and facred Fervor, will fay. Amen. 
 Hallelujah. And, 
 
 5. No looner will the S ntence be pronounced, 
 "tut they fhallvifibly^o away ifitd everlajiing Punifn- 
 ment. — For God, who forefaw tlveir Apoftacy and 
 £nal Wickedncfs, before the Creation of theWorld, 
 did in the Creation provide proper Materials by 
 which io Jhew his JVrath., and make his Power known ^ 
 and give an eternal Image of his inhnite Hatred of 
 Sin, in tive Sight of the whole intelligent Sydem. 
 For al)^ the ilarry Heavens^ and this Earth, are re- 
 fervcd to that Purpoie, laid up in Store as FueJ^: 
 referved unto Fire^againfi' the Day of Judgment and Per ^ 
 ditioti 0^ ungodly A fen. And the Heavens fiall then pafi 
 away with a great N^ife., rulbing togetiier into one 
 gcner^il Heap ; for the Heaoem Icing on Fire Jhall he 
 
 ? 4 dijfolvod^ 
 
170 ^he Wisdom of God 
 
 tlijfclved^ and the Elements, of whch they are com- 
 
 I poi'cd, fial/ melt with fervent Heaty and the Earth alfo 
 
 \, involved in the general Ruin, and the IVorks that are 
 
 therein ft)n!l he lurnt up. And fo the whole material 
 
 Syl^em ihal Torm one inmienfe Lake of Fire and 
 
 ^B'-imjione^ where the Heat iliail be slmoft infinitely 
 
 r intenfe, in whicii rhe Damne^ (hall weep and wail 
 
 and Rnafh their Teeth for ever. For their IVorm 
 
 Jhall never die^ and the Fire Jhall never he quenched, 
 
 1 (2 Pet. HI. 7—12. Mar. IX. 44.) And all this 
 
 ' open to the View, eternally Open to the View of all 
 
 the } n h a u it a n t s o r Hea \ e n . For they JJiall he torrnent- 
 
 \ ed with Fire arvi Britnft.iie^ in the Pre/nice of the hJy. 
 
 '' -rf/z^d'/.f, and in thePiefcnce of the Lamh. (Rev. XIV. lo,. 
 
 ; Ii.j And tliJs greuFire will eternaljy be a vi- 
 
 ^ fible Kmblem of the Kiercenefs and Wrath of al- 
 
 '^I'ghty God^io jhew his fFrath., and make hii Power 
 
 ::,wn. As when Pharaoh and his Huft were over- 
 
 vh; Imed ,n the Red SeT, in Sight of all fhelfraelitcs, 
 
 the Cod of theHebiews^^;^^^^/ his Pozver., and caufed 
 
 I his Name to. be die tared through cut ali the Earth : {Exod. 
 
 IX. i^.^ So now, when Satan and all his Adherents- 
 
 from an apoftate World are ea/r into this Lake of Fire 
 
 and. Brimjioyie^ to he tormented Day rtn^ Night, for ever 
 
 and evej\{B.£V. XX. 10. jit w^Wfiw.Goiisl'Vrath, and 
 
 \ make hi f Power knowny in the Sight of the whole in- 
 
 ': teiligtnt Syiiem. (R.m IX. 22 ) 
 
 5. The grand R.bellion in the- intel)c(51i]al Syf- 
 t tern be ng bicught lo.iliis lfTu< by Messiah, the 
 y prince, whofc Nan;e is King cf Kings and Lord of 
 ^ Lords^ andit/n End put to this vifibie Creation, in 
 vliich C^ much Sin lias been commitied, now 
 .. dn( nied to eternal 1 ire ; Messiah, with the An- 
 l^gels, hisAttendants, and with theSavtd ir<.n-i.rmrng 
 f^Mcn, in Number like the Sands on tiie Sea-Shore, 
 \ fhall afcend to the heavenly Zicn Yvith Singing, 
 \ and entei into evcrUiling Jovs, 
 
 For 
 
in the Permtjfton of Si>T. 1 7 1 
 
 For, as the MefTiah Joved his Church, when (he 
 lay polluted in hef Blood, and gave himfelf for her, 
 and redeemed her from the Earth, and wafhed her 
 in his own Blood, and made her a gloriousCiiurch, 
 and adorned her as n Bride is adorned for her Huf- 
 band ; fo now the Marriage of the Lamb (hall be 
 celebrated before all the Inhabitants of Heaven ; 
 and (he (hall be called The Bride, the Lamb's Wife, 
 (Rev. XXI. 9.) The faved (hall be taken into the 
 neareft Union, and mod bearitic Communion with 
 Jefus Chrid. Who will rejoice over them, as the 
 Pruit of his Labours, as the Travail of his Soul, as 
 the Joy that was fet before him. Even as a Bridie- 
 groom rejotceth over the Bride ; fo zuill he rejoice over 
 them. ( Ifa.LXli. $.) And he will rejoiceandjoy in them, 
 (Ifai. LXV. 19.) And r^/? in his Love. [Xt^h. HI. 17.) 
 And thus they fl'iall be for everivilh the Lord, fliall be 
 whtrehe is., and behold hi sGlory, And God will be their 
 God., and luipe away all Tears from their Eyes j and 
 there foail be no imre Deaths tzeither Sorrow., nor Cry- 
 ing., neither fhall there be any more Pain ; for the former 
 Things are pajfcd awa^f. All Temptations and Trials 
 are at an End : for ever out oi the Reach of Satan, 
 Sin and Danger. All Things are made new., are put 
 upon a newFooi ; not as in the firft Creation, when 
 all finite Intelligences were pur on Trial, and left t:3 
 (land or fall for themfelves, God unobliged to hold 
 them up, in Confequence whereof Sin entered into 
 Heaven andEarth ; whereas in this nevvHeaven and 
 Earth, there (hall be no Sin ; but in them 
 dweileth Rigbteouf.efi. (2 Pet [II. 13.) CiirKf v/ill 
 eternally be f!.c Htaduf aP hb!v Inte-Iigences, and 
 his Immutabiliry be thcr eternal Scciirify. (Eph. L 
 10.) So ih.-y (hali polT. fs this good L.ind, wiiicli- 
 flows With Mi Ik and Honjy, which is the Glory of 
 all Lands, ot which the earthl-. Canaan was- aType j, 
 I fay, they (hall poilei's it for ever. 
 
 7. An'd 
 
1 72 The Wisdom of God 
 
 7. Akd upon the whole, what muft be the Re- 
 flexions of Angels and Saints, in thoie happy Regi- 
 ons or Light, Love, Peace, and eternal Contemplati- 
 on ? What muft the ele6t Angels think, while they 
 ^ recollecfl the Day of their Creation ; when Satari 
 and all his Hofts ftood with them, and bowed and 
 worfhiped before the Throne ; and remember his 
 foulRevolt> his Expulfion from Heaven, hisAttcmpts 
 to diflionour God, and get himfelf adored in an apo- 
 Aate World ; and now view his eternal Overthrow, 
 chained 10 the burning Lake for ever and ever t 
 And what muft be the Reflections of Adarn^ 
 Abel, Enoch and Noah j of Abraham, Ifaac and 
 Jacob; of Mofes, Joihua, Samuel, and of all tils' 
 I Prophets, Ap-oftles and Martyrs j and of all the Sa- 
 \ vcd, ill every Age of the World, and from every Na- 
 I tion, Language and Tongue under Heaven ? while 
 ■ they recoiled the original Apoftacy of Mankind^ 
 • and the whole Hiftory of all the Conduct of an apo- 
 f^ate World, from the Fall of Adam to the Day of 
 JudgTicnt, as lately laid befere the Tribunal of 
 i Chnft : A))d remember their own former awful 
 ' Temper and dreadlul State while f<£cure in Sin,. 
 ^ running in full Career to Hell : And confider how 
 ,. they were pitied and redeemed by an incarnate God, 
 if and ftcpt and reclaimed by fovereign Grace, and 
 i" kept by the Power of God thro' Faith unto Salvati- 
 i on ; but for wliich, they not only might, but cer- 
 tainly would have been, in the fame inhincely dread- 
 ^ ful Condition they now behold others in, once their 
 ; Neighbours and Companions, chained among De- 
 ^ vils to the burning Lake. 
 
 I As the pinus jfraelites, when quietly fettled in 
 I the earthly Canaan, would naturally call to mind 
 .; the Day, when they were Bondmen in the Land of 
 i: Egypt, and the Egyptian Manners, and the idola- 
 trous Cuiloms ill wiiich they were educated : And 
 
 h9W 
 
in the Permijp.on of St^, 173 
 
 how they had forgotten the God of Abraham, and 
 the proinifed Land, until the Arrival of Moles from 
 the Land of Midian, with the Rod of God in his 
 Hand : And how they felt in the Time of the 
 Plaaues, and at their Egreflion, and when purfued 
 by Pharaoh, and when pafTing thro' the Sea on dry 
 Ground, and when they found themfelves fafe on 
 the other Shore, while Pharaoh and his Hofts were 
 
 funk. likeLead in the mighty Waters : And talk 
 
 overall their Wildernefs-Travels, and all God's 
 wonderful Works : And how they fumed at Maffah, 
 Tiberah, and Kibroth-hattaavah, and were always 
 provoking the Jvord to Wrath : And how the CaV- 
 cafes of fix hundred Thoufand fell in the Wilder- 
 nefs. " Yea, and we Ihould all have been cut off 
 ** anddeftroyed, had not the Lord wrought for his 
 *' great Name's fake. It was not for our Righte- 
 ** oufnefs, nor for theUprightnefs of our Hearts, 
 *' that he brought us into this goodLand : but from 
 *' his own fovereign,felf-movingGoodnefs, andthat 
 ** he might Ail the whole Earth with his Glory. 
 " Wherefore we will tell our Sons, and our Sons 
 •' Sons, what God hath wrought ; that we and 
 *' they may fear and reverence that fearful and glo- 
 " rious Name, the Lord our God, and adore 
 *' his diftinguifhing Goodnefs, and walk in all his 
 *' Ways, and keep all his Commands for ever." — 
 So it will be jud as natural for tb.ofe, who are faved 
 from among Men, when the Day of Judgment is 
 part, and they fafe in the heavenly Canaan,from 
 thence to look back, and furvey, and talk over all 
 the Ways of God to Men, and all the Ways of 
 Man to God, from the Creation to the final Con- 
 flagration. And while they behold the divine Na- 
 ture fet in fo clear, flrong and ftriking a Light ; and 
 the Pidure lliii brightened by a View ©f the fliock- 
 
 ins: 
 
174 ^'^e Wisdom of God 
 
 ir.g Conc!u6l of the human Race towards him, 
 
 how wjll they t'ceJ, and what will they fay ? 
 
 Let us but imagine our felves in the Company 
 of the Saved, and attend to the Converfation of 
 Hv^ven. Patriarchs, Prophets, Apodles and Mar- 
 tyrs, and Angels mixt in the fame Aflembly, all join 
 to .arry on the Converfation, each filled with holy 
 Deiiglit, while the Ways of God to Man, and the 
 Wa- s oi Man to God, are all the Theme. 
 
 ADAM begins. " How farprizing is it,to find 
 
 *' my felfand fo many of my Polleriiyin this happy 
 <' World, happier a thoufandTimes than the Para- 
 '' dife I loit ! Indeed, I was happy then, but the 
 " Scenes of Darknefs, Guilt and Woe I pafTed thro' 
 *' after my Revolt from God, and all I have iz^n 
 " and heard from- that Day to this, Things never 
 " to be torgotten, will for ever heighten the Joys of 
 ^« this blefTc^d Place. But, Oh, my foul Revolt ! How 
 infinitely heinous was theCrime ! How juft,if God 
 had left me and all my Race to have gone on in 
 Rebellion, died inDefpair, and f^ ent eiernal Ages 
 with Satan and his Horts, In yonder Lake of Fire 
 *' and Brimftone ! But fovereign Grace interpofed! 
 '' And now I fee the Promife accoinplifhed ; The 
 ^' Seed of the Woman hath bruifed the Serpent's 
 " Head. Know it then, you are happy,not by me. 
 " Not to me therefore, but to God, and God alone, 
 «« is all the Glory due." 
 
 GABRIEL next '^ Indeed, ye Sons of Men, 
 
 *' is all the Glory due to God. He only is Immu- 
 " table. See in yon Lake, Satan and all his Hods 
 '* for everloH:. Once this was their Abode. Witii 
 " us they worfhipped before the Throne. But 
 " they fell. And io might we have done, but for 
 *' the Grace of God. And fo might all Mankind 
 " have fallen too, had they been created at once, 
 *' as we in Heaven were ; and each fet to ad for 
 
;;/ the PenniJfioH of Sin. i 7 ^ 
 
 *' himfelf, as many of Adam's conceited Sons have 
 " often foolilhly wilhcd had been the Cafe. P'roiu 
 *' the Day that Satan fell, to this very Hour, 
 *' every Thing we liave obferved, lias joined to ella- 
 " blifri us in this, that there is no Safety ^'or linlte 
 " Inieiligeaces, but in God alone. He only is by 
 *' Nature immutable. Nor can a Creature, how 
 *' exalted focver, arrive To near to a State of Judc- 
 *' pendence, as to be in himfelf immutably good, 
 •' God is our Strength and Refuge, and the only 
 *' Source of our eternal Stability. Of whom, and 
 " by whom, and to whon1 are all Things, to whom 
 •' belongs Glory for ever !" 
 
 St, PAUL " No doubt, the Intercft o^ the 
 
 <' human Race was as fafc in Adam's Hands, as it 
 " would have been in our own. And it beino- no 
 •' Injury to us, God might, without any Injullice 
 " to us, appoint him our public Head. And, in- 
 *' deed, confidering the Defign God had in Vj^w, 
 '' there was great Wifdom in that Contlitution. 
 *' For Adam was fuited, as a Type and Shadow, 
 *' while we dwelt in that World of Darknefs, to 
 '* alFifl: us to right Conceptions of Chrill, our fe- 
 '* cond Adam, our fecond public Head. TheOm- 
 " nifcient, feeing no Trull could be put in his 
 *' Saints, and that even the Angels could not be 
 '• depended upon, did, before t)ie Foundation of 
 ** tl>e World, deilgn his own Son fnould become 
 *' incarnate, and Itand forth as the firil-born of 
 " every Creature, the Head of the Creation of 
 '' God ; that in him he might gather together, hx 
 *' and ellablifli all the Eledt, wliether belonging to 
 ^' Heaven or Earth, as we fee at this Day. 
 
 yJDAX^ " How glorious is the Exchange I 
 
 '' Once r was your publicHead : but in me all was 
 
 ** loil. God left me, that it might be feen what 
 
 *^ WAS in my Heart 3 that it might appear, all 
 
 Q. u Flcl!^ 
 
-6 The Wisdom of Cod 
 
 *' Flcfn Is but Grafs. Ahd now, not I, but his 
 ^* own Son is your Head. And your eternal Wel- 
 ' fare is fecured in the divine Imnuitability. This 
 ' Glory was due to God alone, who only is un- 
 changeable. And this Glory, by Means of my 
 Fall, God has taken to himjelf in the Sight of 
 the wiiole intelledfual Syiiem/' 
 
 GABRIEL ** So Satan once flood at the 
 
 " Head of all the angciic Holls, v\ho revolted with 
 *' him, a migluy Chief. And like the bright 
 *' Alorning- Star, excelled in LulUc all thofe_Siars 
 *' of Heaven. But how art thou fallen, O Luci- 
 *' fea Son of the Morning I And how haft thou 
 *' drPyh O'fFa third Part oi the Stars of Heaven, to 
 '* join in thy Revolt !"* 
 
 6T. PAUL '* But now, not an Arch-angcl, 
 
 •' nor the P'ather o^ Mankind, but God's dear Son, 
 ^' i?, in this new State or Things, at tlie Head of 
 ^' all holy Jntelligencts. Both Angels and Men 
 *' are gathered together in One; even in him, who 
 *• is the Image of the invifible God, and has exhi- 
 *•* bited thefublimert Figure of the Deity in all his 
 ^'' Works, but chiefly in the Work of our Redemp- 
 ^■' tion." 
 
 JDJM " And all is free fovereignOracel— 
 
 •* His giving Being, natural Powers, and moralEx- 
 '' ctllencies to his Creatures in their firft Creation, 
 " brought them intoDebt to him ; but not him to 
 '' them. 7'hey ov/ed themfelves t^ him : he owed 
 " them nothing. He' was unobliged to become 
 *« theirSurety. I ought to have been obedient to 
 " the God that made me. But I fell. And the 
 
 '' Throne 
 
 * We read of Principalii'ies and Ponverr among the evil 
 Angels (Col. II. 15.) as well as among the Good. 
 (Eph. 1. 21.) And one of their Number Is called ^Prince. 
 (Fph. II. 2.) And doubtlefs he was Prince before h^ 
 fcU, as well as liDce. See Rev, XIV. j, 4, 7, 8, 9. 
 
in 
 
 tie Perm'ijjion of Sy^, i; 
 
 <« Throne of the Almighty v.'as guiltlefs. D.^- 
 *' firuilion Kasourduc. Oh, how free and fovc- 
 " reign is the Grace that has hvcd us !" 
 
 AJOSES " What mud have been theCon- 
 
 <' U-qucnce, hxid Mankind in their tallen State beeu 
 *' , merely under the Lua' of Nature, which reqiii--- 
 '* ed linlefs Perfection, curfing the Man who conti ■ 
 *' nu:d not in all Things ! And ytt ihis Law wl>; 
 " ikid^tly righteous. And as fuch,was it republiflied 
 *' from Mount Sinai, by the holy Oxe of Ifrae!, 
 '^ But altho' ourDepravity did not free us from the 
 '• Government and Authority of CtocI, yet it laid a 
 '^ fure Founilalion for our breaking the Law. And 
 " fo, had mere Law taken IMace^we (IVduld all have 
 ''^ been for ever loO-. — And this had been but iTrlc^- 
 <t ly jud. — -But Oh, the free and boundlcfsGracc 
 '* of God ! — His own Son became a Gutfe fur us, 
 '• that all ihefcBlcirings wc novvenjoy,ia this happy 
 '* World, might come upon us." 
 
 St. P JUL— -'Creatuhks becoming ipoilaci', 
 " and iurn.ng Eriemics and Rebels to the Cio(i tliat 
 " made tiicm, this did not in thcleaft difannuIGcd's 
 '• Right to them, and ^w^^'^o^i^y ov?r them ^ but 
 " tht-y ftill rcniatned by Right his oubjeds^ and 
 '• under his Governrn.^nt, and 3ccoun*abIe at Iiij 
 *- "Bfj-buna). And accordingly we have lately Hei^^ 
 " wicked Men 2\m\ Devi's brought to the Ear, ar.d 
 *'.1!«in8ie jland witliout Excufe, e/crv Mouth (lopr, 
 '*' all of them guilty before God. — On the Foot oi' 
 '• nicre Law, theretore, God might juiily have d\.ak 
 ^- with us after our Apodacy ; an<4 by Law mi^ht 
 '•^ have judjicd and condemned us all to yon\!er 
 '• Lake uf Fire and Brimllone, to wc'rer out cttr- 
 
 '• nal Ages. O the Height, aj^d Depth, and 
 
 '■• Lengtii, and Brcnd-h of the Loveof Chrillywhich 
 '• paii^ili aiiUndei (landing ! — Fhe Law was holy, 
 
 jUtl and good — He judged jt fo — he d:^d lo anfwi. r 
 ^i 2 -«^ its 
 
j]'i} The Wisdom of Co J, 
 
 " its Demands. Nor did he nfk our Pnrdon at his 
 *• Father's Hands, on cheaper Terms."* 
 
 " GABRIEL " How had it gratified the in- 
 
 " I'ernal Hods, lately baniflied the heavenly Woild, 
 *' I'y Lazv, to have feen Law fet alide in Favour of 
 ^' a fallen Race ! And how would they have tri- 
 '^ umphed^to fee the Judge of the whole Sy(Um ref- 
 ••" pc6i Peribns, and iiave no Regard to Right ! — 
 *' Better, ini:niteiy btttcr, all the human Race had 
 '■^ been for ever loll." 
 
 St. PAUL ''You fpeak the Sentiments of 
 
 *' ail ilie Sa\ed. Had we been pardoned to (jod's 
 "'• Difhuijour, it would have fapped the Foundation 
 <•' of all ourjoys. — Kow much foever you pitied cur 
 " Cafe, you never dclijed oui Relief in fuch a Way." 
 
 GABRIEL '' 1 remember well the Day, the 
 
 *' News of your Revolt fiiil reached llic heavenly 
 *' World. — We t'.ought )ou all for ever loll — and 
 ** approved ihe 'Fhirig asjiiil — We faw noVv^'ay for 
 )ou| Rciici — nor iljalfwe ever forget howThings 
 appeared — God's new Creation all in Ruins t and 
 S«itan triumphing in his Deed. — But, O the 
 *• Love of God to you !' And O the bouadlefs 
 '* W^^fdom of hiui who fits upon the Throne !" 
 
 MOSE^ 
 
 ^ How infinitely fliocking, to the Inhabitants of Heaven, 
 would the VA'oik of our Redemption appear, had Chilli 
 died to anfwer the Demands of an unj«(l and wicked Law ! 
 If the Law, which requires finkfs Perfedion on Pain of 
 ctcrrnaJ Damnation (Gal. IlL lo.) was a cruel, unjuft and 
 wicked Law (as fume, who pretend to trult in the 
 Blood of Chrilt for Salvation, arc fo inconfilknt with 
 iheinfelvcs as to affirm) it was irifiniteiy wicked, the Son 
 of God (hould die to anfwer its Demands. On thisrfy- 
 podiefis, the Work of Redemption, infleud of bci;ig the 
 moft glorious, would be iiifluitely the mofl. faockin^AfTtiic 
 that ever happened. 
 
 4C 
 
/// the PermiJJloi of Sr^. 'i'f 
 
 AIOSES '' Solfrael once, for their Idol airy, 
 
 *' Oood all coiidemn'd to Death— Li/ w^ ^7/<?^v, the 
 *' Almighty raid,r/;^/ inaMemtutl K:ay dcjlro'j them-^ 
 " J knew, the Caufs was juft. And never (hall 
 '* forget how he wrought lar his great Name's 
 
 " SAKE." 
 
 GABRIEL « That was but a taint In^3ge .■ 
 
 •' this. For now a wliole "^Vorld lay in Ruins — 
 *' and Satan and all his Hofis irrrriumph were rca- 
 " dy to fay, ^'Tis beyond the Almighty himfdfto dij- 
 ^^ concert our Plan. His Honour^ Law and Truth 
 '* chl'ige h'nn to accorr.pUJ}) the Thing we would — Dcuoii 
 «« iheJVorldtoDeathr 
 
 ADAM « Now the full Purport of thofe 
 
 *' myllerious Words, The Seed of the TP'oman fimll 
 •« brulfe the Serpent's Head^ once the Foundation cf 
 <■' all my Hopes, altho' but little underftood, nov 
 " their full Purport all opens to View. — On ili\; 
 <' CrQfs,hc fpoiledPrincipaliiies and Powers,rappe(l 
 *' theP'oundationof Satan'sHoprs,and ruined a!i his 
 
 *'- hellilli Scheme Since his Exaltation, he has^ 
 
 *' compleated his whole Deiign — Yonder now lies 
 *« the old Serpent, his Head, altho' fo replete with 
 " Craft and Poifon, thoro'ly bruifed, and himfelf 
 
 " chained in the burning Lake. But why am I 
 
 "^ among the Saved ! Never was there fuch an In- 
 '^ ftance of free fovereign Grace I Satan beganRc- 
 *' bell ion in Heaven, and I began Rebellion on 
 «* Eaith : and why are we not now both logetherjiu 
 *« the fame burning Lake ?" 
 
 ABEL — '-' Fhrre is my Brother Cam, forever' 
 *< lod. — O the fovereign Grace of God to me !'* 
 
 BOAR " There are the Inhabitants of th« 
 
 ««• old World. — They filled the Earth withVioIenc-i 
 sc — were deaf to all the W.irningsof a long-fuffer- 
 *^ ing God — were deflroyed in the generalDeluge— 
 ^ now wehring in the burning Lake. — O the To- 
 (i.3 Vfrcigu 
 
l8o The Wisdom of God 
 
 *' vercign Grace of God to me ! Saved then in the 
 " Ark^ S-:re now in Chrift." 
 
 /BR/IH/iM »' Sl;ch a univerfal Deluge, 
 
 *' fuch a dreadi"uiDeftru(51:ion,one would have tho'^r, 
 " would never ha-ve been forgotten. Bur no foon- 
 " er did Mankind increafe, but they turned their 
 " Backs on God : and in a few Ages, all began to 
 '* link into Idolatry. Then was I born in Ur of 
 " the Chaldees, where I might have lived and died 
 *' edranged from God, and been now among the 
 '* Damned, had not God of his fovereign Grace vi- 
 " fited my Soul, and called me from the Idols of 
 *' my native Land. But behold, now here I am, 
 " and here islfaac my Son, and Jacob myGrand- 
 *' \on, an-d Thoufands of my Pofierity, in Glory ! 
 •* KvcrlaP.ing Fraife is due to free and foverefgii 
 '• Grace." 
 
 St. PETER " YcNDFR, in that Lake of 
 
 •* Fire and Brimlione, is Judas \.\\c Traitor, once a 
 " Follower of Chrift,iiow doomed to endiefs Woe. 
 " Oh r>ever ihall I forget the black and gloomy 
 Night,when I curfed h iwore, I knoiv nctthdMan^ 
 my bJelTed Mailer ! Nor Ihall I ever forget the 
 kind Lock, which bro-t me to Repentance. Nor 
 ihall I ever ceafe to adore fovereign diftinguifh- 
 ing Grace, but for which I had now been wilh 
 Judas in tlie burning: Lake." 
 
 cV/. RAUL ^' But of all the Saved, no Tn- 
 
 ihnce of fovereignGrace, like me!* Once a Per- 
 
 " fecutor. 
 
 Sovereign ; not bcc^ufcGod a<51ed abfolutely without any 
 Keafon at all, in converting a perftcuting Saul, who was 
 the word of the two, and pcffing by t'v young Man m 
 thcGofpel : for irJiaite \Viruom always a^ts on the h:;;h- 
 cft and bcftKeafon. But bccrufe SauJ wis not chufcn Tt 
 his Goodnefs, being the chisf of Sinners. \. Tim. I. t; 
 Yet Q'A hi^ wife £nds in his Ctoice. ( See vcr. i6 
 
//; the Pemi'iJJlon of Si^. iSi 
 
 <« fecutor, and a BUfphemer. Never fi-iall I foro;et 
 " the Djy I fet out for Dainalcus, breathing forth 
 '' Threatnjni:^s an:i Sia-u^htcr againft the Diiciples 
 <« of the h;)iy Jefus. Bur, O the Grace, the lo- 
 " vereign Grace ot God, that topped me in my 
 *' Career — fcnt mc to carry the gbd'Tidmi;s ofSal- 
 " vation to the Gentiles,— and gave me Thoufands 
 '* to be my Joy and Crown of R-s-joicing ; as it is 
 « this Day!" 
 
 St. PJUL's CONFERTS . « Once we were 
 
 *' dead iji Trefp ilTcS and S.ns> buried in l^eathenilh 
 '* Darknefs ; and even under the full Power of the 
 '■* Pnnce of Darknefs ; and might now have been 
 *' with Ivin in Woe. Bur, O the fovereianGrace 
 " of God to us, v^ho fent his chofen V'ci?c], and 
 " eddied U5 out of Dirkjiefs- into marvellous Li:zht, 
 *' arid now Inth brouj;iit us to this VV^orJd of Jo) ! — 
 *' Eternal Prailes to the Lord. 
 
 [Thousands and Mdhons will fpeak the fame 
 LanL;uage, and all join to proftrate themfelves 
 before theThrone, and give all theG'ory and 
 Praife ot their Salvation to God and to the 
 Lamb : and with the moft tervent Love and 
 Gratitude, attended with the deepeft Humility 
 ail 1 Reverence, devote themfelves toCT'jd tliro' 
 
 Jtfus Chrilt for ever and ever And while 
 
 all ihis is obferved, very natural mull ihe fol- 
 lo^vins; Refi'eitions be.j 
 
 GABRIEL *' How IS Satan difappointed in 
 
 •* every Reipecbt ! And Heaven, become a i«t*re 
 0.4 *' g orlous 
 
 As no Doubt he always Has, altho' in innura; rable C^Tes 
 ihey are abfoluteiy beyond our Reach. God has ;i Right 
 in this C^fe, a=; the great Sovereigri of the Univerfe, to 
 do as \\z pleafrrs. But he always does what is wifcd to 
 be done. His Sovereigniy is a 'U'//d'and hofy ^overeigntv^ 
 a«» J an infinirdy anrnbic P-irt of his moi"iil Lharadcr. It 
 15 G'jfi CJhry, Z^oi, XXXill. i8, 19. 
 
l!f2 7he Wisdom of God 
 
 " glorious and i appy PJace,than ever it was ! 
 
 '' 1 remciTiUer, wlitn there v\as(K.thing but Love, 
 *' Order and Harmony in Heaven and Earth, I 
 " rcmember,when Satan a glorious Archangel rirft 
 *' broke Order in Heaven, ro!e iip in Rebellion a- 
 " gainft the Almighty ; and liow he carried the 
 ** Infcdlion down to Earth, And I remember the 
 *' horrible Tragedies he has a(5>ed over, from Age 
 " to Age, at the Head of the Powers of Darkneis, 
 *' ruling in theChildren of Difobedience, and filling 
 '' the V/orld of Mankind with Sm and Woe : and 
 *' the mightyvQppofition he has conrtanily made 
 " ag-iinft iheilUerfft and Kingdom of the Meffiah ; • 
 *' fomerimes as a great Red Dragon, thinking by 
 " Fire and Sword to bear dovt'n all before him ; 
 *' and then as an Angel of Light, fpreading Dclu- 
 *' fions far and wide ^ not caring v^hat Shapes he 
 " put on, if by any Means he might attain his 
 *' Ends. — But now hisDay is over; HisDefigns are 
 *' fruftrated : His Expedations difappointed, and 
 '' his Kingdom ruined. -And behold, Yonder lies 
 *« thcMonfter, chained in that burning Lake 5 now 
 '* the only Place of his everlafting Abode ; wel- 
 " tring in Horror, Rage and dreadful Difpair! 
 
 " If he hoped to bring our gloriousMonarch into 
 ** Contempt in liisDominions,among hisCreatures; 
 «* he is difappoir.ted. ForGod is more 'oved,honour- 
 ed. revered, extolled &-praifed, than ifthefeThings 
 
 had never happened. -M lie hoped to JefTen 
 
 his Authority, and bring his Law into Contempt, 
 that it iTiould be locked upon a light Matter to 
 tranfgrefs ; he is-in this ajfo difappointed. For 
 *' never would it have appeared fo infinitely hei- 
 *' nous, and fo fhockingly dreadful a 71ni?g,.to 
 " tranfercfs, if thefe Things had never happened. 
 
 Or if he hoped, at leail, that tlie Execution 
 
 ^^ of divine Vengeance would leilcn iheMamfefta* 
 
 cc 
 
:.i t!:j Pcrruijjh'i of Si"^. 183 
 
 " tions of divine Goodnefs, and diminilh theHap- 
 " pinefs of the intellc^Tua! Svliem ; he is alio dif- 
 *' appointed in this. For God has Ihewn his Wrath 
 '* in luch a Manner,as to- render the Riclies of his 
 " glorious Grace infinitely the-inore confpicuous, in 
 " the Sight of all the hihabitants of Heaven ; and 
 '" their Love and Joy arifc unfpeakably higher, 
 
 *' than if tiiefe 'I'hings had never happened. • 
 
 " Yea, all Things have worked for Good, and turn- 
 " ed out well. His Pride has been the Means of a 
 " 2;reat hicreafe of Humility among hnite Intclii- 
 '• gences ; as it has led them \(i {cT what th'ey 
 " m-4ght hav^e come to, if left of God. His Fall has 
 " been the \4eans of our Confirmation. His In- 
 " gratitude, of our being for ever the more fenfi- 
 " ble of the rich Goodnefs of God. His fetti-^ 
 " up to be indepcndentjtheMcans to bring us tox 
 '* more abfolute and entire Dependance on God, 
 " the only immutable Being. And his aiming at 
 '' Supremacy, feducingMankindjand raifmg all this 
 " Confufion in the Syi\em, has occafioned the Al- 
 *' MIGHTY to afTert his own Supremacy, and fet^ 
 '• his own Son at the Head of tlie Creation, and M 
 " him to bring all Things to an everlafling Efta- 
 " b!i(hment, in a Way mofl: honourable to GoJ^ 
 
 " and m^(\: advantageous to the Syftem. So t!-^e 
 
 " he is difappo'.nted in every Refpe(5f. He meant 
 
 " <?// for Evil '. but io, God meant all forGood^Ko bring 
 " to pafs as it is this Day. 
 
 '^ So all his Succefies liave now at hd ended in 
 <' \\\it eternal Ruin of hisC?u^e: And hisTriumph^, 
 " in eternal Defpair of ever again lifting up his 
 " Head. And all ilie Mifchief he hath wrought, 
 <« hath in Fa6l brought down a ten-fold Vengeance 
 " on himfelf, in yon Lake of Fire and Brimltone ; 
 *' where he is doomed to he,weltring under divuic 
 *' Wrath, thro' endiefs Ages, to exhibit to thcView 
 
 " of 
 
^^4 "^^'^^ Wisdom of Go J 
 
 '• of all Intelligences, the evil Nature and drcsdful 
 " Confcqucnces ot" Rebellion. — Mean while, God 
 " and h:s A4ESS1AH reign, and will for ever reign 
 
 " And thus the ^ced cf the IVcmm hath biuljcd 
 
 *' the Strpenfs Head. Amen. Halleluj.ah." 
 
 Such will be HieRedtclions of Angels i^r.d Si^ints 
 after tlie Day of Judgment, \vlunthey*havc fccrv 
 God's grand Plan liniilvjd, and from ihofe celcftial 
 Regions lojk b2ck. and review the Whole. 
 
 And nowywho can doubt, but tlv.it the Hymility, 
 Holintfs and Flappinefs of the Saved will be much 
 greatir, perhaps ^ Thoufand Times, perhaps Ten 
 'I'jioubnd Times greater, than if thcfelliings had 
 rever happened ? And how know we, therefore^ 
 but that there may, on the prefcrit Plan, more Ho- 
 'voii.r rj:dound to Gnd,and more Good to ilic SyHem, 
 Op the whole, than if Sin and Mifery had be^^n for 
 ev?r u ilcnown ; yea, almoft intialte!y more ? * 
 
 0'>je^iov. " But was there no other W?y, m 
 ** which God could have made Angels and Men aj' 
 '* }i«)ly and h,a.ppy without the Perminion of Sin ?" 
 
 Jnfivcr. No, Not if tliere were no other Way, 
 in which he could fo clearly and fully manifef^, nnd 
 fo advanfagcoafly communicate himfelf to his Crea- 
 
 -s as this. — For his Creatures can neiilicr be 
 ^ >' nor happy, but in the Knowledge and Knjoy- 
 . ""..t of him. Now,if I am not able to p. eve there 
 was no W^ay, yet the Ohj^SJcr cannot poinb'y con- 
 trive a Way, in which God could have given Aich 
 
 clear 
 
 "he Computations in Page 65, 66. Scrm. on tl-e MiJ- 
 Lnjiium, and in Page 144^ 145. on the W i£!oni cf 
 
 (.od, &C. are f.-fTicient to clear the Point. If but two 
 Thirds of Mankind (honld befived, and their Happinefs. > 
 be increafcd but an Hundred Fold, considering iheGrt .t- 
 nefs of their Number, xh$, Overplus- 1 lappln^fs in t' ' 
 vhok rnuil be Milllom of JMllinus of iL 
 t)cgrcc3 ; as any ruay fee by Calculation. 
 
jn tJ?e Permtffion of Sin. I Sy 
 
 clear arivl full Manifeftations of himfelf, and com- 
 rmanicatc Good to his Creatures, in every Rtffpetfl 
 To advantagcuully, Siii and Alilery l>ring for ever 
 unknown, as iv: has, and will, upon the prcfent 
 Piari. So that, for auglit theObjcertor, or I, know, 
 this, of all {)oiribiePians,may be the bert contrived, 
 to give t full and clear iVlaniteftation of the Deity, 
 and raife lntel;!;z;ences to tiic higheft Pilch of moral 
 Perfe^ion and Happinefs. And its being cliofen 
 by intinite VVifdom before ail others, dcmoniliaies, 
 that this is actually the Cafe. 
 
 Thus then l\ands the Ar2;'jrnent. God's per- 
 mitting Jjfeph to be f )ld into £gypt in the Manner 
 he was, of all other Methods was, as Things were 
 circuai:^anced, the beft calculated to anlwer the 
 noble Ends God had in View ; at lead, fo far as 
 we can fee : and God's adlually choofing that Me- 
 thod, demonllrates, it was adlually the bed ; intinite 
 
 Wildom beincr Jud^e. So here— God's laying 
 
 out the prefentPlan is, of all pofTible Metliods, the 
 bdl to anfwer the noble Ends Cjod h.is in View 
 at leail, {s:^ far as we can fee : and God's choofu.. -- 
 this, before all others, demonlirates, that this is 
 a6\ually the Cafe j infinite Wifdom being Jud^re. 
 
 Obj. " But if We grant this to be the bell M-- 
 " thod to uccomplifh the Ends God had in View, 
 " and grant his Ends are ever fo ncble and glori-, 
 ** ous ; yet how could it be right,forhim to doEfuily 
 " that Good ?night corne r"' 
 
 Jnfw. I. As God was not obliged to interpofe 
 and hinder Jofeph's being fold ; (o hisno»: interp'^ - 
 ling, cannot be called, doing Evil. — And God's r' _ 
 h nderina; the Apolhfy of Angels and Men, car>'in 
 n.) Sen to hit QiWcA^doingEvil thiitGood might come \ un- 
 \A'-^ we can firl^ prove, that he was bound to hincl 
 them. And let this once be proved, tie <"" 
 fcquence will be, if any o£ God's Crcatui 
 
 buujer 
 
iS^ The Wisdom of God 
 
 i Subjef^s, at nny Time fin, then God muft bear the 
 Blame. And ib, not ihe Creature, but the Creator, 
 will be under Bonds. 
 
 2. In fomeCaffS, even we ourfelves haveaRight, 
 in a Senfe to permit Sin, and may adt wifely in do- 
 ing fo, as common Senl'e teaches all xMankind. 
 Thus, a wife and good Malkr, wlio has a very 
 lazy, unfaithful, deceitful Servant, whom he often 
 catches at Play, when he ought to be at his Work, 
 and vvhofe Manner is to he himfelf clear, if he pcf- 
 flibly can, may, upon a Time, if he pleafes, unfeen 
 by his Servant, (land an Hour, and let him take his 
 Courfe, with a View more tlioro'ly to convi6t him, 
 and reform him. And this is not doing Evil, that 
 Goodmay co?ne, but acSting wifely, in Order to reclaim 
 a lazy, deceittul Servant. 
 
 3. God was at the Head of the Syftem, which 
 was all his own ; and it belonged to him,to lay out 
 a univerfal Plan, if I may compare great Things 
 with fmall, jull as it belongs to the Head of a Fa- 
 mily, to lay 'Ut Family-Schemes. And he knew 
 ptriccfUy well, what would be moH: to his own Ho- 
 nour, and to the general Good of the Syflem, wlie- 
 ther to become Surety for all intelJigtnces at their 
 firft Creation, before they had learnt their Need of 
 his Interpofiiion — or, rather, to let them take their 
 Courfe, and learn by Experience, w liat was no other 
 Way fo well to be ieariit, that they might be the 
 better prepared to acknowledge him as the only 
 Being by Nature immuiably good, and to receive 
 with fuitable Gratitude, this Super-Creation-Grace, 
 
 I and give him Opportunity, n^ean while,to H^ew that 
 he was the Lord, and fill the whole SyHtm with 
 his Glory, to the great Increafe of the Holinefs and 
 Happinefs of his Creatures. — And he had a Right 
 to condu'il: according to his ownVVifdom, and to do 
 what he knew would bell t-o be done. * Ohj, 
 
 >^\* See Mr. Edwarss on Lil^cr/jjkc. Tag. 260 267. 
 
cc 
 
 in the IPermiJJion of Sii^, iSj 
 
 Obje^. " Well, if God wills Sin, then it feems 
 " Sin is agreable to his WilJ. And if from all 
 " Eternity^'he decreed the Mifery of his Creatures, 
 *' then it feems, their Mifery fiiits him. Beiides, 
 .** what is decreed mud necellarily come to pafs,2i:d 
 V fo our Freedom is deftroyed. All which arc 
 ." contrary to Scripture, and to common Scnfe." 
 
 ylnfiv. *' Well," fays the idle deceitful Servant, 
 Vho was catched at his Play, and fuffered to take 
 
 his own Courfe for an whole Hour, '* Well, 
 
 ■*' Mafter, now I fee you love I ihould be lazy, and 
 «1 play J for otherwifeyou would have hindred me, 
 *^ And now I fee you love to whip me, for the Sake 
 
 of Whipping ; for othervvife you would not have 
 
 fuffered me to have deferved it. Befides, you 
 '*■ decreed to permit me to play on,that wholeHour ; 
 
 " and fo I could not polFibly help it." All which 
 
 Would not only be contrary to common Senfe, but 
 appear to favour of fo great Perverfenefs, and be 
 fo very faucy and provoking, that his Ma[\er would 
 not think it needful to give any particular Anl'wer, 
 but rather proper to punilh him according to his 
 Deferts. — For it mud be plain to the Servant at 
 the ftime Time, that Jdlenefs and Deceitfulnefs were 
 theThings his Mafter hated in him. And he mull 
 know,he adted freely and deferved the Whip : and 
 that it became his Ixlafter to punidi fuch a Villain, 
 not only becaufe he deferved it, but alfo that his 
 other Servants might hear and fear, and do no more 
 fo wickedly. — Nothing can be plainer, than that 
 the Jews aded freely in bringing about the Deatli 
 of Chrid. And it was one of the greated Crimes 
 that ever was committed. And yet it came to pafs 
 according to thedivineDecrce. j^cf.W. 23. U IV. 28. 
 And none ever thought, becaufe from all I.ternity 
 God decreed the Death of kis Son, that therefore 
 his Agonies on thcCrofs were pleafing to hisFather, 
 R as 
 
1 88 T^e Wisdom ef God 
 
 as one tint loves to fee others in Mifery mccrly for 
 ^lifery's Sake. 
 
 OLj. *' But yet,— Is it not a Pity, any are finally 
 k/A: ? — Would it not have been better, if all had 
 been faved ?" 
 
 yinfw. It would, no doubt, be better for their 
 own interefl, if the Rebels in any earthly Kingdom 
 would all come in, and fubmit : and they would in 
 fuch a Condud ihew more Refped to their lawful 
 Sovereign. On which Accounts their Sovereign 
 m^y fend and fmcerely invite and command them 
 to return and fubmit, altho* he knows, they will 
 not, and is at the fame Time determined to do no 
 more, but upon their obftinate Refufal [as the beft 
 Thing that can be done] to make them Examples 
 of his Wrath, in the Sight and for the InlVud^ion 
 •f all his Dominions. Nor can any juftly fay, it is 
 a Pity he did not take more Pains w^ith them, or 
 that it is a Pity he punilhed them at lafl. * 
 
 Pharaoh 
 * And might not fuch an earthly Monarch fend to fuch 
 Rebels, and fay, /Is I livcy I have 710 Pleafure in your 
 Death, (££^/J.XXXIH. 11.) I am lovg-fuffering to'wards 
 you, not 'wiUing any of you Jhould be put to Death, hut 
 that all Jhould come to Repentance. (2 Pet, III. 9.) 
 And that with theiitmoftSinccrity, — altho' he knew theJr 
 Obftinacy was fo great, that they would not hearken ; 
 and aliho' he was before determined to do no more, but 
 (as the bed Thing that could be done) to proceed to 
 their Execution, for the Vindication of bis Honour and 
 
 Inftruftion of ail his Dominions ! Surely none ever 
 
 thought but that an earthly Sovereign may in fuch a Cafe 
 kave a real and fincerc Regard to the Welfare of his 
 Subje(!l3, confidered as Men ; altho' he isdctcrniined, as 
 a wife Govcrnour, io JJosnx) his Wrath in their Dtlfrtkflion, 
 confidered as obftinate Rebels, after having endured ijnith 
 much Long- fuffcri fig, {Rom. IX. 22.) Nor did ever any 
 doubt but that he has Right to fei Bounds to Lis Endea- 
 
/// the Permjjfion cf Si^. iBf 
 
 Pharaoh bad fliewn more Refpc^fV to God, and 
 it had been more for iihs IntereH:, had he repented 
 of his OpprefTionSjanJ without Delay yielded Obe- 
 dience to the divine Command, and let Ifrael go. 
 But no Man has Rcafon to think, it had been bet- 
 ter if God had faid or done more to make him 
 obedient, or that it was a Pity, God punifhed him 
 at lad as he did. [It was the beft Thing that could 
 be done.] 
 
 Moses had beheld all his Condud. And Mr^ft* 
 beheld the Punilhment the Almighty infli(fted on 
 him and on his Army. And what did Mofes think? 
 Did he think, it was aPity,that proud & haughty Mo- 
 'varch was fo bro't down r — aPity,the cruelEg} ptians 
 were tlius drowned ? Or did not the divine Conduct 
 
 cjppcar perfect in Wifdom, Glory and Beauty ? 
 
 Now if none are finally loft, but thofe who defciv?^ 
 eternal Damnation, as really as Pharaoh and his }lo\\ 
 did topcrlui in thcRed-Sea; and whofeeternalDam- 
 nation vj]]\ turn as much to the Honour of God and 
 general Good of God's chofen People, as did th« 
 Dettrueiionof Pharaoh and his Hoft, and as much 
 more as perfe<5tly to anfwcr to thc^reater Impor- 
 tance of theCafe;it is not at all ftrangeiftheir eternal 
 Damnation Ihould appear in the Eyes of God, An- 
 R 2 • ' gels, 
 
 vonrs and to his Patience, or that It bccrmcs him to d« 
 fo. {P/aL LXXXI. 8 — 13.) And if Gcd's Cof-dud in 
 giving up obflinate Sinners is confiflent with all the ten- 
 der Concern fie exprcfTes for them, his decreeing to con- 
 dufl fo is confident too. If he aifls confidently, it was 
 
 confillent to determine tosdt fo. It may be obfcrved, 
 
 that as the Scriptures lake it for granted, Mankind 
 are moral Agents, and proper Subjcfto of moral Govern- 
 ment ; fo do I in all the above Reafonings. Nor is it 
 needful I (horild enter particularly into tliis Point again, 
 after what has been already publifhed. (Pec my Truf 
 Religion dslinsaicdj and SimnsM Ofi G<il, III. 24 ) 
 
ipo The Wisdom of God 
 
 gels and Saints thro' eternal Ages, in as beautiful 
 and glorious a Light, as did the Dcdrudion of 
 Pharach and his Hoft, to Mofes, when he compo- 
 ied and fang that Song recorded in XVth. Chapter 
 o^ Exodus. — The Egyptians thought it a Pity, their 
 Tslonarch and his Army were loft. Yea, to them 
 
 it appeared a dreadfully (hocking Affair. But 
 
 Mofes fang, 77;<rLoRD hath ir'runiphed gloriously. 
 And was exceedingly rejoiced, to fee that he had 
 thus J]:ew7i his Power^ and laid a Foundation to have 
 his Name declared thrcughcut all the Earth. 
 
 And thus will it appear to all the Inhabitants of 
 Heaven, when Satan and all his Adherents lie over- 
 ?vhehn»d in the Lake of Fire and Brimflone. And 
 tlierefore the heavenly Hofts are reprefented in 
 Scripture, as fir.gtng the Song of Mofes \ triumphing 
 in the Deilru6\ion of Satan and his Adlierents, as 
 Mofes did in the Dellruclion of Pharaoh and his 
 Army I [R.ev. XV. 3.) And as repeating their Hal- 
 lelujahs, exulting and rejoycing while they fee < 
 the Smoke of the' r Torment ajcending for ever and ever / 
 (Rev. XIX. 1,-6.) 
 
 Nor need it fccm Grange, that the Inhabitants 
 of Heaven, who have fo great a Refpe(5l to God,ancl 
 are fuch hearty Friends to his Interell and to the 
 Honour of his Government, fliould fo entirely ac- 
 <»uiefce in the righteous Punifliment of hi'S invete- 
 rate, obftinate Enemies. If vindidlive Wrath were 
 nothing but groundIefs> arbitrary Vengeance, it 
 would be quite another Thing : but as it is (in the 
 Governor of the World) nothing but Love,io God, 
 to Virtue, to the beft Good of the Syflem, bearin>g 
 down in a wife and righteous Manner the Enemies 
 of God, of Virtue, and of the Syflem, it cannot but 
 appear infinitely amiable in the Eycaof the Inhabi- 
 
 tatUs 
 
i/i th Pernnjfion of SX:<. TJT 
 
 tants of Heaven.* It is much more firangr, that 
 aay who heartily acquiefce in the Gofpcl-Way o# 
 Salvation, Ihould be ftumblcd at the final Punifli- 
 mentofthe Wicked. It muft be ftrange Partiality 
 in us, indeed, to acquiefce in the Death of God's 
 own Son, when landing; in the P.oom of Sinnfr?^ 
 and yet to object again(i ihc Punithmcnt of Smncrs 
 ihcmfclves. It arg'MS, either that we are very fd- 
 fiih,or eife taut we love the Son of God lefs thau 
 we do God's ob{>inare Enemies, to be ccnfent that 
 lie Ihould bear the Curfc of the Lav/, but, loth that 
 they (houid. The fame Views which caufe \h% 
 Sair.is in Heaven to acquiefce in God's feuing forth 
 hisownSon to bea Propinihon fcr Sin, to fecurc 
 the Honour of the divine Juftice, at the fame Tim« 
 lead them cordially to approve of the eternal Dam- 
 nation of obftinate Sinners ihemfelve?. 
 
 BEsiDEs^to ufe theApo!\le*s own Words,v/ho was 
 infpired by him who has a perfect View of ail 
 Things, and knows what is beft in fo important a 
 Cufe,'(Rom. IX. 22.; What ifGod^ zviliing ujljcwhi^ 
 IVrath^ and inake his Power kmwn^ endured with much 
 Long-fuffering the Vejfels. of Wrath fitted for Dejlru^ ion ? 
 What if God, who doubtlefs is the fitteft Judge,3nd 
 to whom alone theDecifion of this Affair belongecj,^ 
 what if God tho't it beft to fingU out fome of his 
 apodate Creatures, fome of hi& obftinate Enemies, 
 R -^ Ttsho 
 
 * Vindictive Jufllce, if I Diiflake not, arlfes \vholly iiont 
 Love^ and is always under the Diredion cf iafiniie Wif:* 
 dom. And if fo, it is a^ mniiable Perfc^flion in the Deity. 
 Love is the Sum ©f tke Moral Law, which is aTr-mfcript 
 of the nior^l Perfedlions of God : Therefore Love is.tha 
 Sum of God's moral Perfeiftions. Love to God, to Vir- 
 tue, and to the Sydem, will naturally iniace the Gover- 
 nor of the World to punifh thofc who are obflinale Ene- 
 mies to God, \.Q Virtue, aod tg ih? Syftcni;^ »vCCr4ikig \.% 
 Ih^ir Dcfwuj, * 
 
19- The Wisdom of God 
 
 who inveterately hate him and hisGovernmentjand 
 Pharaoh-like, bid him Defiance ; I fay, What if 
 God tho't it bed to fingle out fome of thefe, to be 
 Examples of his Wrath, to be vifibieMonuments of 
 his Jullice and Power,that the whole Syftem might 
 eiernally fee how infinitely he hates Sin, and how 
 cafily he can fubdue his Enemies, and what a fear- 
 ful Thing it is to rife in Rebellion againft him : — 
 ^'Ver. 23. J and that he might make kiiown the Riches of 
 his Glory on the Vefels of Mercy, zuhich he had a-jore 
 prepared unto Gbry : That, by the Means, he might 
 ietthe infinite P'reenefs and Greatnefs of hisGrace, 
 cxercifed towards the Saved, in the moft confpicuous 
 Point of Light, wha in their DePrru^ion will cter- 
 f:ialjy fee v/hat they deferved, and rsiuft certainly 
 have endured, but for the dying Love of Chrift,and 
 
 fovereign Grace of God ? What if infinite Wif- 
 
 tiom has judged this the befl Plan ? Who is there 
 among all finite Intelligences,that has Right orRea- 
 fon to object ? 
 
 Oi>j. " But if this Plan was really the bcft, Why 
 *' do not Mankind now prefer it above all others, 
 " and heartily rejoice in it ? Why fo much Mur-* 
 '* muring around the World ?'* 
 
 Jnf. It was but about an hundred Miles from 
 Egypt to Canaan, and in forty Days, conduced by 
 Almightiness, the liVaelites might have marched 
 jrom Egypt thither ; and the Canaanites being all 
 flruck dead In oneNight, as an liiir.drcu and eighty- 
 five Thoufand once were in the AfTyrian Camp ; 
 '2 Kings, XIX. 35.) the Ifraelites might have taken 
 .nmediate PolTcllion, and fpcnt their Days in Feaft- 
 iRg and Joy. And had they been offered their 
 Choice, no doubt they would have preferred this 
 Scheme, before their forty Years March in the 
 Wildernefs ; s^hcre the Lord led them thro* aLand 
 «f Difarts and of Pits, through a Land of Drought, 
 
 and 
 
in the Per?m[fiQn of Si^, 1^5 
 
 and erf the Shadow of Death, thro' a Land that no 
 Man p:uTjd thra% and where no iVlan dwelt; and 
 fuffcred them to hunger and tothirft, and for their 
 xVlurmurings under their Trials, ftruck them dead 
 by Hundreds and Thoufands. For they generally 
 cared only for their ownprefent carnal IntereftjEafc 
 and Comfort. They had no Reliflito thofeThings 
 which God's Heart was chiefly fet upon — Did not 
 want to fee God exalted, his Authority eftablifhed, 
 or to be trained up to a Life of entire Dependancc 
 on God, to have their Hearts humbled and broken^ 
 and be made to know that not for their Riglueouf- 
 nefs were they brought into that good Land ; nor did 
 tliey care anyThing about thatlnltruflicn which fuc- 
 ceeding Generations might obtain from thcirTrials, 
 and fromGod'sCondu6t towards themthofe 4oYear& 
 in theWildernefs. And l.adMofesbcen able to open 
 to their View the great <S: gloriousEnds which v;ere 
 likely to be anfwered, they foon would have replied, 
 '* And what Good will it do us, if all the Earth is 
 *' filled with his Glory, and if all thefe Ends are 
 " accomplilhed, and if it will be better for the Na- 
 *' tion in the long Run ? What G^fed will all this 
 *' do us, £b long as our Carcafes fall here in the 
 '' Wildernefs ? it had been better for us to have 
 "Jived and died in Egypt. Yea, we had rather 
 " never have been born, than to undergo wh^t wc 
 *• underra,and di^ here at U^/' Nor had it been in 
 the Power of Mcfes to have Oopt their Mouths, un- 
 Jefs he could liave changed their Hearts. Yea, not- 
 withilandingall thatGod himfelf faid to theia, they 
 continued murmuring in tlieir Tents, till he was 
 obliged to execute terrible Veng^eance upon them. 
 Faurtecn Thoujajid znd /even Hwich-edwcvz ftruck dead 
 at one Time, f Num. XVl. 49.; Noiu all thifeThings 
 happtned to tkern fir our Enp.rmpUs^ andihfy are w) inen 
 Jar Qur Admoyiltion, (1 Cor X. 11.) — It were better,. 
 R 4 therefore 
 
Ip4 7*^^^ Wisdom of God 
 
 therefore, if Mankind would leave inurmiiring at 
 God'sWays, which are undoiibteily all Wife ; whe- 
 ther any Mortal in this prcfent dark and iinpeife<!\ 
 State is iib!e to (hew tlve Wifdom of them, or not. 
 If all that bas been faid, appears to have noWeiglit, 
 and we give up God's Plan as being at prefent abfo- 
 Jutely inexplicable ; yet, from the infinite Wifdom 
 of the Dtity, it is capable of (ffttt DemcnHration, 
 that of all pofhble Plans he has chofe the bcl>. 
 Therefore,the Fault is not in him, but in us. That 
 there were none to be blamed in the Cafe of the 
 Iiraelitcs but themfelves, we now can plainly fee : 
 io will itl^Ui^pear at tlie Day of Judgment, that God 
 always dioilight, and acled wifely. And then ev^- 
 ry Mouth will be fiopt. And fince we are certain, 
 this will iinally be the Cafe, it inhnitcly belter bs!- 
 comes us to ceafe our Murmurings, and learn to 
 jufiify God, and take all the Blame to our fclves : 
 and as we are invited, fo without Delay to cafl 
 away the Weapons of our Rebc^Ilion, return and 
 fubmit to our rightful Sovereign, thro' Je/udChriO, 
 now while Mercy^s offered to us. 
 
 But if ai|^ haughty Sinner, Pharaoh-like, fays,. 
 '* Who is the Lord r I know not the Lord, nof 
 *' care for his Authority, or Government, nor will 
 «'• 1 humble my fclf berore him:*' — let fuch a haugh^ 
 ty Wretch know, that the Almighty is above 
 liim,~and can-accomplifli all his Schemes without 
 liii Confent. For iiaving endured with all proper 
 Lc ng-fu fieri ng fuch impudtnt Sinners, he can fliew 
 his Wrath and make his Power known in their 
 eternal DcftrutSlion, to the Honour of his Name, 
 and to the eternal InftruiTdon of the Saved. 
 
 As for thofe who leave the Honour of God, the 
 inlinitely great and glorious Giod, the Author, Pro- 
 prietor and King nf the whole Syftem, abfolutcly 
 out of the Accovnt; as a Thing of no Importance, 
 
;// 
 
 the PermiJJJon of Siih ic^ 
 
 and what theGoveruor of the World is not at all 
 Concerned aboiit, and imagine that the Good of 
 God's Creatures and Subjec^ts is the only Thing to 
 be attended unto, in ail the divineCondu(5l, aa mo- 
 ral Governor of the World ; — as for fuch, I fay, jt 
 is impofFible to reconcile any Part of God's Plan to 
 their fundamcntaJtMaxim. For if nothing was of 
 Importance but the Creatures Good, why was not 
 that folely atiended to ? Why were all put on 
 Trial ? And why eternal Deftrudion threatned for 
 the firll: Offence ? Or ever threatned at all ? Or 
 the finning Angels expelled the heavenly World, 
 and the human Race all doomed to Demi for t/je 
 firjl ^IranfgreJJion ? And if our Good is all that God 
 now has in Viewj why have not more Pains been 
 taken for our Recovery, from Age to Age, from the 
 Beginning of the World ? Yea, why are not infi- 
 nite Wifdom and almighty Power effedually exerted 
 to render all eternally happy ? p'or the Saved, rf 
 this Principle is true, will be eternally grieved to 
 fee any of their Fellow-Creatures for ever in Heli- 
 Toniicnta. Nor can the eternal Torments of the 
 Damned anfwer any vaiuable End, on this Mypo- 
 ihefis. 
 
 Strange arc the Pofitions, vi\\\c\i the Chtvalur 
 Ramsey has laid dov^n in Order to reconcile the 
 divine Condud to this Notion. He maintainSjthat 
 *' God did not certainly know that his Creatures 
 " would fall— And if he had known it, he couJd 
 *' not have hindered it, confidently with their free 
 *' Agency — He has been trying ever fince to re- 
 '' claim them--Intends to continue in rhe Ufe of 
 " Means till he has reclaimed them all— The Tor- 
 *' ments of Hell being the moft powerful Means 
 " ofGrace,are finally to be ufed,with fuch as can- 
 " not otherwife be reclaimed, merely out of pure 
 *' X^Qve to the Damned, to purify an.d bring them 
 
 " te 
 
i^S The Wisdom tf Goi 
 
 •* to a better Mind— So all at laft Hiall be recovered 
 
 " and made for ever happy!" But if God meant 
 
 to ufe the moft powerful Means with a fallen World 
 lie pofubiy could, and that in every Age, as upon 
 that Hypotheils it muft be fuppofed. Why did he 
 fend butoncNoAH to the oid World ? Why not 2 
 or 3000 r Why did he raifeiip but one MosEs,and 
 but o.ie Elijah, and fend thenri'only to the Ifrael- 
 jtes ? Why did he not raife up Thoufands in every 
 Age and Nation under Heaven, and make thoro* 
 Work ? Aittl why does l:ie not take morePains with 
 us of this Age ? Raife up Tlioufands as well qua- 
 lified to preach as St. Paul r And pour out his Spirit 
 on all Fiefli, as he did on the 30CO on the Day of 
 
 Pentecoft ? If cur Good was all he had in View, 
 
 and he really intended to fave us all, one would 
 think he would new ufe , the moft powerful Mean* 
 to reclaim us, and- not ftay till the Day of Judg- 
 ment, and then doom us to Hell, jn. .orderto fir us 
 for Heavjen ! — — Belides, at that great' Day,'- a guilty 
 World will^ find, that Chrift does not coiiYe to enter 
 upon the Ufe of farther Means to recover theWick- 
 tds but to give them thciL^^s! Doom. Chrift will 
 not come to fave a guilty World^but to judge them. 
 Not cloathed with Love, hul.'rt^fiitnin^ Eire', Not 
 to do them Good, but lo takeVengtance. (^iThef.I'.S.) 
 Not out oi Love to thein, but to jhiw his JFrath. 
 (Rom. IX. 22.) Not to purify them, but to caft 
 them, like worthlefs Chaffy into unquenchable Fire, 
 (Matt. III. 12.) Not to fit them for, and finally to 
 bring them to Heaven, with the good Wheat, but 
 as 7arei to hum them up. (Matt. XllI 30. j Not aim- 
 ing at their Good, as VefTcIs of Mercy, but aiming 
 at their De/iruaion asVcJfeh oflFrath. fRoni.IX_^2.) 
 Not to difcipline thf m for a Seafon, but xo punifi 
 them with everlafting Dejlr nation, (2Thef. I. 9.J Send 
 them into tvcrlajiing /vW (Mutt. XXV. 41.) intp 
 
 gvo'hjiinf 
 
 .*V 
 
in the Perm'JJton of Sin. 197 
 
 tverhfVing Pumjkment. (Ver. 46.) wlice thilVgrmnc^ 
 ver dle^^ and the Fire is not qitenched (iVlar. IX. 44,4.^, 
 if'i,) but thr; Smoke of their 'Vovrntnt Jhall afcendfor 
 
 tver and ever, (Rev. XIX. 3. J And the Eternity 
 
 of Hell-Torments will effedually convince the who'c 
 Syftcni, that God iias an infinite Regard to fome- 
 thin^elfe befides merely the Good of hisCreatures; 
 as it is meet and fit he (hoiild. (SeeMal. I. 6, — 14J 
 And this Part of his Conducl will help to compleat 
 his Pi6ture, and finifh his true Charader, in the 
 Eyes of all intelligences. As yet Mankind hardly 
 believe him in earned. Words do not anfwer the 
 End. But Actions fpeak louder than Words, and 
 will work a thoro' Convidion. 
 
 As for the common Plea, that *' God needs no- 
 <* thing from his Creatures, and fo can only aim 
 •* at their Good :'* It is a Way of Reafoning con- 
 trary to the univcrfal Senfe of Mankind, in all Cafes 
 in any Meafure analogous. The Father does not 
 require Honour from his Son, merely becaufe he 
 needs it ; but becaufe he^deferves it. The Mafler 
 does not require Reverence from his Servant,merely 
 becaufe he needs it ; but becaufe \\i deferves it. 
 And if the one (hould defpife his Father, and the 
 ether treat his Marter with Contempt, they would 
 foon feel the Force of that Reaibning, in Mai. I. 6. 
 ji Son honour eth his Father ^ and a Servant his A^ajier : If 
 then I he a Father y where is mine H^bur ? And if I he 
 a Mnf}ery where is my Fear F faith the Lord of Hofts, 
 Ver. 8. Jnd if ye offer the Blind for Sacrifice^ is it not 
 Evil ? And if ye offer the Lame and Sic/:, is it not Evil? 
 Offer it now unto thy Governor^ will he be pleafed with 
 ihee^ or accept thy Per [on ? faith the Lord of Hofs. Ver. 
 14. Cur fed be the Deceiver^ which hath in his Flock a 
 Afaley and voweth andfacrifieeth unto the Lord a c$rrupt 
 T/jing : For 1 am a CKZ at King, faith the Lord of 
 Hojh. 
 
 Nor 
 
1 98 Th \Visdc3m of God 
 
 Nor is there any Way to eriabliCh that Maxim, 
 ■which yet Ues at the Foundation of almofl all the 
 modern Schemes of Religion, but to prove, either 
 that the Deity does not deferve fupreme Honour, 
 or that the moral Governor of the World is not 
 jud. For if he dcferves it, he ought to have it. 
 And it belongs to the moral Governor of the World 
 to fee Juftice done, i. e. to fee that every one has 
 his due. 
 
 And indeed it is the chief Happinefs of the In- 
 habitants of Heaven, to fee God univerfally honour- 
 ed, ind each one to join to give him the Giory that 
 is his due. They inceiTantly cry, Holy^ Holy^Holy is 
 the Lord of Hojfs ; the whole Earth is full of thy Glory, 
 (Ifai. VI. 3.) They fail down before the T krone ^ and 
 ivorJJnp him that liveih for ever and ever^ and cajl their 
 Crowns before the Throne^ faying^ Thou art worthy to re- 
 ceive Glory ^ , and Honour ^ a-nd Poiver : for thou haji 
 zreatcd all Things ; and for thy Pleafure they are a?id 
 were created. (Rev.iV. 10, 11.) 
 
 If the Honour of God is of infinite Importance 
 in it felf — then it is infinitely defirable for it klf — 
 und then to fee God honoured and exalted, will be* 
 of allThings mofl happifying to holy Intelligences^^ 
 And that Plan which is fuited to this, will be the 
 moft happifyingPlan — And there may be tlie greateft 
 Degree of Happinefs on fuch a Plan, and yet all 
 lliings be fo contrived as that it may eternally 
 appear in the moft ftriking Light, that there was 
 fomething God had an infinite Regard to, befides 
 the Happinefs of his Crearures-- — On this Hypo- 
 thefis all the Parts of God's prefent Plan may be 
 accounted for. 
 
 But if the Honour of God is of no Importance 
 in it felf — then it is not defirable for it ielf — nor 
 will it be a happifying Sight, to fee God exalted — 
 nor th^it Plan that is fuited to exalt God, a happi- 
 
 ' {ymg 
 
tn 
 
 the Vermijjion. c/ Si^, fp^' 
 
 fying Plan— vea, no good End can be anfwered by 
 fuch a Plan— and lb no Part of God's prcfent Pisa 
 can be accounted for. 
 
 If t!ie Crcitifre's Happincfs is the only Thing of 
 Worth—then infinite Wildoni and almighty Power 
 fiiould be employed ouly to promote it — uid tho 
 everlaftiiig Punidiment of the Damrnid can anfwer 
 710 good End: as, on this Hypothefis, none can dc- 
 ferve it, nor can God defire it, or any holy Beingj 
 acquiefcc in it, or receive any Inftruc^tion fro ii it. *^ 
 
 And T'hy God ever permitted Sin or Mifery to 
 
 enter into his WorId,wiii be iblbltitcly unaccoun- 
 table : as will eveiy Step God bas taken with 
 fallen Intelligences ever fincc Satan's Apoitacy. For 
 why did not God inl^antly reftore fallen Angels and 
 fallen Man, and immediately coniirni them, if thsir 
 Welfare was the o?:iy Thing of Worth ? 
 
 In a Word, 1 humbly conceive, this Pofition, 
 that the IVelfare of Creatures isSe onlyTh'pig of IVorthy 
 a}id the only "Thing to he regarded hy-'ihc moral Govcrn-Atr 
 of the Univerfc^ is one of the inolV groundiefs, irra- 
 tional, unfcriptural Pofitions, that ever \^as laid 
 down ; little, if any Thing Ihort of, nay, vvorfe 
 than the groiTert Abfurdities pradifed by the 
 Heathen, For what <lid they worfe than worjij'p and 
 fej-ve the Creature 7n'ne than the Creator ? [Rom. I. 25 ) 
 But on this HypothcTis, the Creature alone is to he 
 ferved\ and God himfelf, the glorious Creator is to 
 become his almighty ^tfr'LWz/ ; and to be loved only 
 and merely for his Faithfulnefs in the Creature's 
 
 Service : The Creature has taken the Throne, 
 
 and theCrearor is become his Servant. No Won- 
 der, fuch a Scheme fuits the Heart of fallen Crea- 
 tures. And its being ever broached, or ever re- 
 ceived, in God's Dominions, by any of his Crea- 
 tures, is a full Demonliration, that ihey are fallen 
 S indeed. 
 
 (*Scc tlils proved ia my Tru>e Relrgloti ddbiealed, P. 215.) 
 
i 
 
 icd T^e Wisdom of Col 
 
 indeed. Yea, not only fallen, but funk into fe 
 great Degeneracy and Delufion, as to think, that 
 God himfejf is iallen too, and quite turned to be 
 
 of their Side. And now they Jove him, and 
 
 tJiInk all is well ! PfaJm, L. 21. Thou thoughuji I 
 lias altogether fuch a one as thy felf»' 
 
 But it is Time to proceed, as was propofed, 
 III. To make fome pradlical Improvement of 
 the whole. And, 
 
 I. What has been faid may be of ufe to afTift 
 «s to form right Ideas of God. The Law gives 
 us a true Pidure of the moral Perfedions oF the 
 divine Nature. God is exadtiy what the Law fpeaks 
 him to be. Y«t the Gofpel fets his moral Per- 
 fections in a ftill clearer Light : the Glory of God" 
 ihines exceeding brightly in theFace of Jeius Chrifl-. 
 . — But God's univerfalPlan comprehending Law and 
 Gofpel, and all God's Difpenlations from theFoun- 
 dation of the World to the final Confummation of 
 all Things, fets his moral Charader in the com- 
 pleateft nnd mod ftrlking Point of Light ; and puts 
 lis under vaft Advantages,even in this prefent State, 
 to n^ake a fwift Progrefs in the Knowledge of the 
 Deity. Indeed, had we that high Rehlh for di- 
 vine Knowledge, that goodTalle for divine Beauty, 
 -which they in Heaven have, our Proficiency might 
 bear a great Refemblance to theirs. — But, Oh how 
 ftupid are we to divine Things I Having Eyes to 
 fee, and fee not : Ears to htar, and hear not ; nei- 
 ' her do we underfland : Hearts of Stone, that have 
 .0 Feeling. We are even as Beafts before him. 
 £0 that wliile his Glory (liines all around us, we 
 arc in profoundDarkncfs. — O for the Influences of 
 the blefled Spirit, to awaken our Attention to the 
 Manifefiations he makes of himfelf, and to give 
 lis a true Tafte and Reliih to the Beauty of divine 
 Things ! Then v/ould our Hearts be e„plarged, to 
 
 love 
 
/;/ the Per:niJJhn of SiN. 2 ot 
 
 love the Lord our God, and to fear him, and to 
 walk in all his Ways, and to rejoice in the Wifdoni 
 of his univerfal Government. O for that bleiied 
 Day, when we lliall receive the holy Spirit in a full 
 and perfect Meafure ! Then (hall we fee no longer 
 in this dark Manner, but as it were Face to Face, 
 Shall in a Meafure, at once, take in the Idea which 
 God has exhibited of himfelf, and be ravilhed with 
 the Wifdom,Glory and Beauty of his univerfal Plan. 
 2. What has been faid may be of ufe to alTu]: 
 us not only to form right Notions of all finite In- 
 telligences, as being in their bell Eftate at an infinite 
 Remove from Self-fufficiency and abfolute Indc- 
 pendence, the peculiar Prerogatives of him who 
 alone is by Nature Immutable ; but it may alfo be 
 of fpecial Ufe to afTift us to juft Notions of the true 
 Chara(£ter of Mankind now in their fallen Sig . 
 Fac^s are ftubborn Things. The Heady ' Conduv ^ 
 of Mankind, from the Fall to this Dav, gives their 
 true Charader beyond Difpute. Only ihjnk what 
 they ought to be, perfccftly in Love with Cod, and 
 full of Love to one another ; and fee what their 
 Condudl has always been towards God, and to- 
 wards one another. — Towards God. Te do ahvays 
 reji/i the Holy Ghofl : as your Fathers did, fo do v^, 
 Which of the Prophtts have not your Fat hers perfecute . 
 And they have flam them which fJjewed before of the C^m - 
 ing of the fiji One ; of %vhom ye have been new the 
 Betrayers and Murderers. {^A6l. VII. 5r, 52.) — To- 
 wards one another. Livings in Malice and Envy^ 
 hateful and hating one another. (Tit. 111. 3.) 
 Who live in Hatred, Enmity and Stnfe 
 Among themfelves, and levy cruel Wars, 
 Walking the Earth, each other to dertroy : 
 As if (which might induce us to accord) 
 Man had not liellilh Foes enough bcfides, 
 Tiut Day and Night for his Dcl\iu«51ion wait. 
 
 Mm :. 
 
'02 The Wisdom of Goi 
 
 And io ob{l:inate in their finful Ways, that In 
 Fad no external Means have ever been able to re- 
 claim them. So alienated from God, that no Ar- 
 guments can perfuade them to be reconciled. So 
 ^hat notwithOandine; all the outward Means which 
 have been ured,5'et hili theWorld is as it was. The 
 Chnilisn Nations very little better, if fo good, as 
 lumcI-Jeithen have been. [Mat. Xil. 41.) 
 
 3. What has been faid may be of ufe to rea- 
 lize to us the infmitely evil Nature and dreadful 
 <^ onfequences of Sin. Let us view the Lake of 
 i"ire and Brimdone, and fee what will be the JfTuc 
 of the grand Rebellion. Sin has turned Angels into 
 Devils, and baniflit them from Heaven, and will 
 corifine tbem for ever to the burning Lake, with 
 ail their Adherents from this apoftate World. Let 
 ns view God'sCor.ducl towards Sin from the begin- 
 i.ing of the World to the Confummation of all 
 'i lnngs,and we may fee how infinitely he hates it, 
 <ind how refolved he is to fupprefs it.— Oh, how 
 n-.fmitely dreadful had hc.n our Cafe in this fallen 
 \VorId, had a Saviour never been provided I 
 
 4. What has been faid rends to give us the 
 fabiimefi: Ideas of the divine Interpofition on the 
 Kidl of Man, to defeat Satan's Deligns, and bring 
 infinite Good out of all the Evil that Satan intended. 
 ■ — -O the Depth of the Knowledge, Wifdom 
 wtA Grace of God ! Glorious in Kohnefs, fearful 
 inPraiks, doing Wonders 1 This Theme is worthy 
 of eternal Contemplation, and will appear new 
 and t'refli and raviihing thro' eternal Ages, to all 
 tne bicfied Inhabitants of the upper World : Efpc- 
 cially, to the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. The 
 Sjvcd from among Men will have feme Idta.^ and 
 joys quite peculiar to themfelves, that even the 
 ■:lc6t Angels will not intermeddle with : ^iidfiig 
 
 a new Song^ that none can learn^ hut thofe who were, re- 
 timed from thu Earth, (Rr^,X,lV. 3.) 5. What 
 
in the Perm'ijjion of Sli<, 203 
 
 5. What infinite Madnefs are th: Sons of Men 
 guilty of, that they can be ina'-tentive to a]] this glo- 
 rious Grace, go on fecure in Sin, and pcrfift in their 
 Adherence to Satan's intereft, ahho' they know that 
 Satan and hisHofls, &,aU hisAdherents, are dertin'd 
 to the Lake of Fire arid Hrimflone ? " O poor, 
 " blind, infatuated Creatures I to adhere to Satrfn, 
 *' our ftrft Bftemy, who io maliciouily fou^^ht our 
 *' total Ruin, deceived the happy Pair, and plungeti 
 *' ail this World in Wo* ! to adliere to him wheii 
 ** he ftili dcfigns yourRuin ! to be deaf to the kind 
 '* Calls of the Son of (toJ, who ir.ear\s to defeat 
 *' SaUn's B«ligns, and has died in the Caufe, and 
 *' now reigns in Heaven with the fame Views, and 
 " invites us all to fubmit to his Government and 
 ^* tru.l in his Blood ! And can you ftill go on in 
 '' bold Ociiance of almighty Vengeance ? and make 
 
 " a Jeil of eternal Burnings ?" Oh^l^ov/ horrid 
 
 the Thougiit ! infinitely horrid the Thought, that 
 lb many of the human Race are daily imprecating 
 Damnation upon themfelves, calling upon God to 
 damn their Souls to Hell ! Poor Creatures, they lit- 
 tle think what DLmnation means ! they little think 
 ■what it is to fall into theHands of the livingGod !— - 
 Who that lovts God, or has any CompalFion for 
 immortal Souls, can think of the prefent blind and 
 miferable State of a fallen V/orld, and not long for 
 the bleffcd Day, when Satan (hall be bound, anci 
 the Mefilah reign on Earth ? 
 
 6. But let me conclude the whole with an Ad* 
 drefs to the fpiritual Seed of Jacob. 
 
 As Ja«ob was in great Didrefs, when his Son's. 
 Coar, all befmeared with Blood, wiis brought into 
 his Piefence, and faid, "» Surely he is rent inpieccs^ 
 " and I fhall fee him no more I" and afterwards 
 when Simeon was left in Egypt, Things looked; 
 4arker ftill, " Jofeph is not, and Simcoixi§. not,anc| 
 
-.-^ ^he Wisdom of Go J 
 
 • now will ye take away Benjamin alfo ! all thefe 
 " Thines are sgainft me !" and yet in the End, he 
 faw the Wifdom, fieauty and Glory of the whole 
 P]an which God had laid : fo fliail it be here. 
 How dark loever the prefent State of the World is, 
 and iiow darkfoever it has been for long i^ges paft, 
 that it has hardly looked like God's World, but ra- 
 ther like a World where Satan rci^ j and how 
 impolTible foever it may feem, that all fhould iiTue 
 ■vveJl ; yet we have the greatefl Reafon to believe it 
 will, and to rejoice in theProfpe6l of that blelTedDay. 
 For this is the very Fhn which infinite Wifdom 
 chofe before all other podlble Plan^ : the vpry 
 l^lan which God hiirifelf laid out — all the Parts laid 
 niitupcn Defign — every Thing adjufted by infinite 
 Vifdom. The Whole , therefore, miift be perfecit 
 \ Wifdom, Glory and Beauty j and will appear fo, 
 hen once it is finifhed. 
 
 Look through the leflerParts of God's great and 
 
 imiverfal Plan^hisDifpcnfations tojacob andjofeph, 
 
 oMofes and the Ifraelitcs of old ; thefe, although 
 
 'ice very dark, are now full of Light, and eafy to 
 
 . underllood. And if God's Works are wife and 
 
 .utjful, fo far as we can underftand them, this ar- 
 
 ics the whole arefo. For doubtlefs all are of aPiece, 
 
 e Author being the fame, and always a(5ling iik« 
 
 - .m;e]f. :;^r ■ 
 
 f'EGiDE'^; rotwlthflariying the dreadful State of 
 
 ..eVVorld in our Day, -and in all Ages paO, there 
 
 :?.y be Time enough yet, before the Day of Judg- 
 
 tnt, for fuch great Events as rnay put quite a 
 
 Vv Face upon ttie whole. Nor need we ^oi.bt the^ 
 
 ccomplilhment of thefe great Events, because they 
 
 ive h^<:n fo long delayed. It is Gad's Way to 
 
 rcmife, aiid make his People wait ; but he was 
 
 ver known to dTappoint their Expe(5^ations. l^o 
 
 -dam he faid;, Tbf ^$ed of tin IVmmiJhall truife ihi 
 
1 
 
 in the PermiJJhn of Sm* t6j 
 
 Serpent's Head. Adam lived above nine Hundred 
 Years, and looked, and waited, and d||P But 
 it was above elevtn Hundred Years after h's Death 
 before God ever fo much as mentioned his antient 
 Proiiiife. A!l h's Porterity on Ea^th, eight only ex- 
 cepted, de:troy'.^d. mean while, in the general De- 
 luge. That fome perhaps were ready to think, 
 God hnd-quite f;)rj->t his Promife. — Till in the 
 Days oi' Abralinm it was renewed ——Again they 
 look, but ftlll It does not come — but long dark Ages 
 intervene, and his Pe^e are Mi^ to wait about two 
 Thoaland Years more. —Ann then behold, it is 
 come ! th^ joytul Day is c.me ! / kring ynt good 
 Ticlhigs nf great Joy. laid the Angel, for this Day the 
 Savhur is born ! 
 
 I SEE not why the Predi<f\ions of the glorious 
 Days are not as full and^*pJain, as were the Predic- ' 
 tions of the IVl^l;>h : nor why we may not as hrmly 
 believe the fetting up of his King«iom, as of old 
 tlicy believed his coming in the Flefli. It is certain, 
 this is a great Objection of the Jews againft our 
 Jefifs being the true Mtffiah, that the Tilings pro- 
 p!:clied of the Mefiiah have never been fullilled in 
 him. T'hat the Kaiions J})ould heat their Swords into i 
 Plow-Jroares^ and their Spears into Pruning- hochy and 
 kayn IVar no mors. Jnd that there fl^ould be ?ioihing to 
 hurt nor offerj/d \ the Knowledge of the L',>d filling ,''. ' 
 Earth as thiWaiers 4o ihe Sfas. kc.Scc. Nor do 1 . [ 
 
 any pofiTibie Way to'anfwer their' Objection, but to i 
 fay, ThefeThingSr:aj-e ftill to be accomplifhed. «] 
 
 And if they Ihould be accompUfhed'in all that \ 
 Glory, in which they are painted jh the prophetic 
 Defcriptions, nothing hinders but tfcaf this Plan, of , J 
 all p'jllible Plans, mayat lafl: a6lu:;Ily prove to be ,j 
 t(\e beft, in all Refpe^s the bell. Mod for God's 
 GI07, and moft for the Good of the Syftcm too. 
 Yea, (o far as we are able to fee, it fc€jns, as if 
 this «iui"t be the C^ie, It 
 
,. 7";^^ Wisdom of Cod 
 
 It is Matter of the greateft "Joy, that all the 
 
 Affair^gtof the Uiiiverfe are coniuctcd by inhnite 
 
 Wiidimi. Jt is an Honour thut belongs ro God, 
 
 to govc^rn tl;e World which he has niade ; to j^o- 
 
 vern'his own World; to lay out and order the 
 
 AlTjirs of his own Family. — We think, we have a 
 
 ■Right to lay outSclicmes for our own Families, and 
 
 fhould take it ill if our Children or Servants (hould 
 
 difpuie our Righ^ Sovereign Monarchs in Time 
 
 of War think ihey have a Right to lay out a Piarv 
 
 o\ Opt^ration fur a|^n!uin^Lampaign, and would 
 
 take It .'li^t rheir Wght' llSljld be difputed by a 
 
 pm'atc SolJier. Much more has God a Right tQ 
 
 ,• out a univ^^rfa! Plan, for the Condut^t rj all- 
 
 Juugs in a World to which he has an original, 
 
 lerived, abfolute Right ; nor can he look upon 
 
 - Worn that dares difpu^e his Right, but With 
 
 nite C'oRttnipt and Deteftation. And, O 
 
 nt Ma:ttr of infinite Joy it is, that he has taken 
 ^. Work upon himfelf ! 'Not Ic-^ft Tilings to the 
 p^viPs Conrro>;1,nor to be decided by the LuAs of 
 an a;>ol'tute World, nor left all 'Things to mere 
 Chniice ; but himfelf in infinite "Wifdcm has laid 
 out a univerfa' Finn, a FUn perfect in Glory i.nd 
 
 Beauty. N«'Moj-tnK that l.ov&s his Plan, will 
 
 th nk of difputing hij.. Sight to lay it. And no 
 ortal, that ioxes God himfelf, that loves hi.§ T.aw, 
 d loves his Gofpe!, tan be an Enemy- to his uni- 
 riai PJcn. Fpr they all parrske of the fame Nar 
 e, a'.d ihhie fonh in the fame Kind of Beauty, 
 ' )', Ja/i and Gnod. 
 
 O YE Seed of Jacob, Joftph Is fafe, and Bcnja^ 
 
 n is fafe : — the Fonour of God ik fafe, and the 
 
 ■od of the Syflem is fafe ; all is in good Hands, 
 
 a id under the Ccno'u(5i of infmite Wifdotp, For 
 
 the Counjel of the L^^d jhall jIan.U and he will do all his. 
 
 FLojim. (xiiu XL VI. I O.J Wherefore fet your 
 
 He4rt§ 
 
3>j the PenniJJlon of Six. 
 
 \ ^il 
 
 .c^' 
 
 Hearts at Reft. For let the State of theWorld and 
 or the Church look ever io dark, you may fafely 
 tru/1 ill the Lordy cindjhy your fAves upon your God^ 
 who is engaged in Honour to conduct all well. And 
 for iiis GREAT Name's s'AKE,he will not fail to do 
 it. (Sec Ezek. XX.) You, therefore, may with tl\e 
 utinv:{l Serenity leave tiie Govenunent ofiheWorld 
 with him, and put an Implicit Faith in his Wifdom 
 and Fidelity, and have nothing to do, but yourDuty, 
 Nothing, but to attend upon the Bufmefs he haS 
 marked out for you. Like a faithful Soldier in aa 
 Army, who trulls his General to conduCl Af/airs, 
 while he devotes himfelf to mind the Bufmefs he Is 
 fet aboui: And the more he rejoices in thcWifdoin 
 of his GVw/YV,rhe more alert will he be in difcharg- 
 ing the Duties or a Soldier. Wherefore, R^J:;Tce in 
 
 the Lord alivays. JgaiJi Ifiy^ Rejoice. Let this be 
 
 your tirft Aiaxim, The Lord reigneth : and this your 
 Pradice, Let the Earth rejoice, (Pfal. XCVIL \.) 
 
 But it mufl be with an holy Joy. With fuch a 
 Joy as refults from a fupreme Love to Go\y and 
 Hatred of Sin,- as an infinite Evil. With fuch a Joy 
 as St. Paul defcribcs, i Cor. XIIL 6. Charily rejoic- 
 eth not in Iniquity, but in the Truth, For no other Joy 
 will anfAer to the Nature of God's univerfal Plan, 
 which is altogether fuited to exalt the Deity, and 
 fct Sin in an infinitely odious Point ot Light, and to 
 caufe Truth and Right univerfally to take Place. 
 
 There are fome who fay they are Jews^ "aiid are ;/ .\ 
 but are ofiheSynagjgueofSatan ; whofay^tliey trull , i 
 the Lord, vvhde at the fame Time, the ^aine ofd i 
 is biiifphenieJ through their'unri<j;hteous and ungouiy 
 Lives. So once tliero was a mixt Multitude camp 
 out of Egypt, and joined m the geiierai Joy at th: 
 S.ue of the Rt d Sea, merely from felriih V^icv j 
 bu: the Lord knew Iiow to try them ; arAJ their ; / 
 cvc lon^ was turned to Murmuring. FoV tli •• 
 
 ■ H...:3 
 
 ^i 
 
The Wisdom of Goi 
 
 Hearts were not right with God : and their Car- 
 cafes fell in the Wijdernefs. 
 
 Y£ Seed of Jacob, Trials, many Trials are 
 ^ "X to be expe(5led, dark, and gloomy Days, while 
 
 c davvning Light of the glorious .Morning comes 
 
 gradually on. Get ready therefore for Trials. Be 
 
 willing,that all Flefi Jhould be brought low, and thai the 
 
 I Lord al«ne jhould be exalted, (I fa. II. 17.) Seek Me chiefs^ 
 
 ■^ ye Meek of the Earthy for ft may be, ye may be hid in the 
 
 f Day of the Lord's Jnger. fZcph. II. 3.) For, bchdd.the 
 
 Day Cometh that J})all burn as an Oven, and all theProudy 
 
 yea, all that do wickedly Jloall be Stubble ; and the Day 
 
 that ccmcth jTjgU burn them up, faiih the Lord of Hcjh, 
 
 L' that it J})all leave neither Root nor Branch : But unto you 
 
 r.t fear my Name, fall the Sun of FJtghtecufnefe arife 
 
 :h heading in his JVings, (Mai. IV. l, 2.) Alany jhall 
 
 run to and fro, and Knowledge fall be increcfed, (Da/I, 
 
 "l\. 4.) Many Jhall bi purified and made white, and 
 
 rd^: but the JVicked fall do wickedly : and none cf the 
 
 ■eked fall underjland, but the JVife fall under/land. 
 
 : er: I©.) BiefTed is ihat Mai1,who (hall overcome 
 
 T-rials,|and be true to theMefllah's Interefl: thro* 
 
 C.hariges, for he fall fland in his Lot at the End of 
 
 Days, ih'the ger.cral Alll-mbly of the Juft inHea- 
 
 .-.(Ver. 13.J fP^ae\ therefore, and pray always ^t hat 
 
 my he accounted vjcr thymic ffcape ail thofe things that 
 
 1 c:?ne to pafs, hndtoflafid lej$re the Sen of Man, 
 
 wk. xxr. 36.) 
 
 '^IjraiLiT -\ '' '"'-Diffidence, entire Dependence 
 
 Jud, tlie ::.Qurcc of conliant Watchfulnefs 
 
 u -jndPrayer.ptritaly become us,^ arc exactly fui^d 
 
 ; to the State of Things in the inteHediual Syflcm. 
 
 ^ Sitan a glorious Arch- angel fell — Adam the rather 
 
 'nfthe humm Race fell — all M4nkind now in a 
 
 ien State — the Powers of Daikncfs determined on 
 
 r R.iin. No Room, therefore is left for Pride, 
 
 i-CoUiidenccj Self- Dependence. Hvli is our pro- 
 
I in the PermiJ/ton of Sm. 
 
 , ^.rDue : and free Grace through Jefus ChrjCl:, ui 
 only Hope. Snares and Dangers are all aroui:jd us. 
 Wdich a?idPra)\ thcrck;;.c, thai ye enter net hiio 'I cap- 
 tation. 
 
 God is the only Being by Nature Tm mutably 
 Good. Were we innocent, we might poiTibly fall ; 
 and God would he unobligt-d to hold us up. Now 
 tve are Smri.Ts, now we are already fallenCreatures, 
 there is no Hope in ourCafe,but we rtiall totally and 
 finally fall if left to ourfelves, and as certainly perilh 
 as we now cxift. And whiUi^ ftiail we Jock for 
 Help ? but to tlie only ijfimutable Beiip. And 
 how ? but thro' theMerlts and Mediation ofChrifl ; 
 being infinitely unwortiiy that God ihouid hold us 
 up. And yet our eternal Intereft lies all at Stake. 
 
 " O THOU Father ot our Spirits, araidft tea 
 «' Thoufand Dangers, apoftatc, felt-ruined, felf-. 
 <« deflroyed, hclplefsj Hell our Due, we iopk to 
 «' Thee ! O help us ! O hold us up I O keep ■■" 
 «' h) thy Power, thro' Faith Jfcfc Salvation ; t' 
 *' Glory of thyfree Grace thro^^fu>'v'!irifl ! Aiu m. 
 
 NO^f'^io hi?n^ ivho loved us a>id ^_r.vc '■■rrjc'lffor 2: . -fi 
 h'tn be Ghrjfy Honour aiid Pr ijer and . 
 
 Amen. tt' 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 E R R J r .^\ 
 In the Preface, Page i . Line 4 from theBottom, for accoun-- 
 tabioi Read unaccQuntabU, 
 
 The 
 
 A 
 
Xhe Contents. 
 
 77m DiviNi'Ht' cf Christ. 
 
 S it reafonahtei to believe a DoHrlue rvf^ cannot fully 
 undsrji:ind ? Pag. i. — Wai Cf^^rifl ih& 'Creator^ or 
 
 r/>' an Injlriumnt in Creation ? p. 4 Was he the G§A 
 
 Ifaac^Sacob, Mofss^ on IMowW 
 Sinai ? p ^.—The King of JjTarl ? p. y .—Who dnvel^ 
 
 nvho appeared to Abraham^ Ifaac^ Sacob, MfsSy on Alotu 
 
 f'cir Tabefnacle^ p %, -And- 'temple, p. 9. — /Appeared 
 
 ■ iah on aT^one hj^' and lifted ffp\, p. lo.-r-^^' ivhom^ 
 
 ( -z'}> Jh^egfiall bciv^. 11. — cpckcn of as ftipr£9ve God in 
 
 the 'XCVlhh and ChftdPfalms ? ,^.12.— What Right had 
 
 ^ •"'.avieni -Writers to apply to Ckrifl Pajj'ages out cf 
 
 hiricntt plainly fpokeh cf the Gcci of Ijrael ? 
 
 ''"iji claim to be the liing of Ifrael^ and 
 
 ^v.t to Death as a Biafphevier ? p. 6,- 
 
 itind 25. — i/^ he indeed the very Gcd und Kifjg of Jfrael ? 
 
 p. 13. — WiMt greater Evidence of his Divinity could have 
 
 hen given §f.^. 14. — Whence arife our Doubts ? p. \6. and 
 
 d^.—He^^ared as a Alan. ■p. 18 — Jn the Form of a 
 
 Servant .^CLO'—Rfceived his /Authority from his Father, 
 
 p. 20. — And 'will r£fon his Kingdom to him. p. 2h. — 
 
 Injinit-e IVfdom has taken the beji Method to determine his 
 
 trueCharahcr. p. 15. — Texts ^ the Arians build their Schetne 
 
 upon, explained. Matt. XIX. 16. p. ly.-^Mark Xlil; ^i. 
 
 p. 19. — Job. V. 30. p. 20. — Joh. X.34. p. J5 ^^iCor. 
 
 XV. 28. p. 21.— Col. I. 15. p. 21.-— RcFiJlI. 14. p. 
 
 ^. <bc. <j(. 
 
 The 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 The MlLLENl^IUM. 
 
 THE good Man, attached to the Inter ejl QftheRedeeTrer^ 
 (p 44.) 'would he overwhelmed nuith Grief, (p 45.) 
 ^ere not hisCaufe finally to prevail, (p 46.) — For their Sup* 
 port yihis nvas foretold to Adam (p 47.) to Abraham (p 48.) 
 OL'tf/ typified {•^^'^.^and plainly declaredly th€Prophets.(^^l.) 
 — The Time fixed, (p 53.)— A^^/ the leafi Reafon te dcuht 
 the Accomffitjli^ent of theThings 'which are njjritten. (p 54.) 
 — Nor 'will the Mijlakes of.Jome^ or Infidelity of others^ 
 alter the Cafe. (p. 60.) — The Number of the Sav$d 'will be 
 like the Sands on the Sea- Shore, (p 63 . ) — j^nd all Hie Glory 
 •will redound to God. (p 67.) — An Affurance of 0kis may 
 fupport the ^ood Many let Things now appear ever fo dark, 
 '(P 68.) J 
 
 The Wisdom of God in the Permiflion of Snr. 
 . f 
 
 WHAT is implied inGod^s permitting Sin ? p. 74.-— 
 Wherein appears the Wifdornjf God in perfnitting 
 Jofephto be fold? p. T^.—Ifrael to he oppreffed ? p. 78.— 
 Pharaoh to harden hUJIeart ? p. 80. — Ifrael to Jin and 
 fall in the Wildsr^s ? p. S5.— C^^V Condua in theft 
 Jnfiances a Clue to lead us into a Vie'w of the Reafofis ofhii 
 permitting theoriginalApofacy ef finite Intelligences, p 105 - 
 and teaches hcna tofolve all Difficulties, p 109. — Did C( t 
 forefee theFall of finite Intelligences ? Could he have hinu-er^ 
 edit P Did he fl and by as an unconcernedSpe^lator ? p 122, 
 — What 'was the original State of Man .^ p 1 27 . — ^ 
 it poffible,fo holy aCreat' • '- ' " '- 
 ducid him F'pi'^o.- 
 Jhver'dbyit. p 13^ 
 ^reafed,andCod 
 receive great I 
 p 141. — What 
 ike heft ? p J 
 — OhjeOicn: 
 
"r^ 
 
 ^*^" ^■--:s^f^«f 
 
"'' ^ tf-^'^^^ *■ 
 
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